Concert Review

Projekt Revolution Brought The Latest Rage To Dodge Stages

Story and photos by John Voket

HARTFORD — Projekt Revolution, the second of two major touring rock festivals, came to the New England Dodge Amphitheater on August 26, showcasing the sound and fury of some of the world’s most popular and punkier rock acts. The promise of free tickets certainly drew many fans to Ozzfest earlier this summer, but the more narrow scope of musical diversity – limited to metal and thrash –  paled in comparison to the big gun headliners on Projekt Revolution.

With Linkin Park headlining the traveling showcase again after a three-year break of back-to-back summer shows (2002-2004), fans certainly seemed primed for the day-long blast of material. The show opened up on a smaller outside stage just before 1 pm with Madina Lake, Styles of Beyond, The Bled, Saosin and Mindless Self Indulgence whipping up the crowd before the doors opened to the main stage.

Just a few moments after the last set wrapped up outside on the B Stage, main stage openers Julien-K, a side project for electronic music created by Amir Derakh and Ryan Shuck from Orgy, started the show. And while Julien-K’s material may be dubbed electronic, I was reminded of an early Flock of Seagulls performance with heavily throbbing synthesizers battling it out against the power-chord crunch of their industrial dance/punk fusion.

Overall, the band offered little to remember them by except for an early tease when Chester Bennington of Linkin Park took to the stage to perform “Let Down,” which he originally performed with Julien-K on the ReAct Now: Music & Relief televised concert.

Placebo was next up, and with notable buzz coming into the Hartford show, they didn’t disappoint. While the act takes it name from a drug that renders no effect, their straight-ahead if not somewhat dark offerings held much of the audience in a galvanized trance, only to be rewarded by raucous responses as each number concluded.

Former Luxembourg schoolmates Brian Molko and Stefan Olsdal shared the spotlight, with Molko’s guitar work and sneering vocals complimenting occasional harmonies and some enthusiastic dancing by bassist Olsdale.

With five albums to their credit, HIM hailing from Finland also rocked the Dodge audience with a well-defined package of image and sound. Puffing away like Denis Leary, front man Ville Valo combined a sophisticated stance reminiscent of a younger David Bowie with the ability to scream like Billy Idol when the occasion demanded.

The band’s strength on the Projekt Revolution set came from the articulate and powerful guitar work of dredlocked Mikko Lindström and the thundering bass of Mikko Paananen who worked the dozen songs expertly.

Having established itself as a consummate cover band in their native country before venturing out with original inspirations, HIM was most effective when delivering their cover of Chris Isaac’s “Wicked Game,” and their own international hit, “Wings of a Butterfly.”

New Yorkers Taking Back Sunday started an uphill climb to the familiar with what seemed to be the most accessible set of material so far. The band was operating as one lean-mean unit providing impressive interplay among each of the musicians.

After a teaser of a set at Live Earth it was great to see bandmates Adam Lazzara, Fred Mascherino, Eddie Reyes and Matt Rubano hitting stride as a performing unit. Lazzara was most impressive singing, screaming and swinging his hips along with his flying microphone on popular material including “This Photograph Is Proof,” “Liar,” and “What it Feels Like To Be a Ghost.”

Kudos to Hartford native Eric Stern who filled in on drums swimmingly after Mark O’Connell dropped from the show due to what the band described as a personal emergency.

Having seen My Chemical Romance on the opening night of the Black Parade tour earlier this year, it was hard to imagine this New Jersey outfit topping that spectacle. Perhaps using the earlier headlining tour to work out all the bugs in their latest tunes, and the comfort of an opening or co-headlining slot contributed to the stellar set.

Singer and songwriter Gerard Way was in top form, seeming to draw unparalleled work from guitarists Ray Toro and Frank Iero while the rhythm section of drummer Bob Bryar and bassist Mikey Way kept the whole careening freight train on track. Gerard Way chatted with the crowd, calling for feather boas which he draped on each fellow band mate during “Mama.”

Other highlights of MCR’s Projekt Revolution set included “Dead,” “Teenagers” and “The Black Parade,” which now numbers among one of the best live songs ever performed. Wrapping with “Helena,” leading into a heart wrenching rendition of “Cancer” only made the many fans who split after the MCR set eager for their next chance to see this stellar new American rock act perform again.

Not to be outdone, Linkin Park hit the stage with “One Step Closer,” reanimating the tiring fans with a vengeance. For nearly two hours the band played on with a set heavy on material from the band’s latest Minutes to Midnight.

Chester Bennington was at his best on material that allowed him to morph from demure to demonic, almost appearing to hurt himself every time he curled up to deliver one of his trademark screams before reverting to his more soft-spoken side.

Guitarist Brad Delson washed each arrangement with his powerful buzz saw guitar work while Mike Shinoda laid down the rap on Joe Hahn’s DJ scratch. Fans were never more than a song or two away from a Linkin Park hit as the band cleverly mixed its new material including breakout single “What I’ve Done,”  with favorites like “Numb,” “Sharpest Lives,” “This is How I Disappear” and “Breaking the Habit.”

Hopefully the success, popularity and diversity of this year’s Projekt Revolution Tour will spur a return to the summertime festival circuit in 2008, instead of making fans wait two or three years to check out some of the planet’s most revolutionary rock talent.