Strung Out w/ Bullets and Octane 9.25.09 | The Shore | Long Beach, CA review and photos by Michael Mullenix All, right, this is a new one, even for me. I confess, I have seen plenty of concerts in a variety of different venues, but never a hotel. I have seen more basement shows in my time than I can count and have gone from crowded pubs in Boston, to an abandoned Elk’s lodge, a church basement, all the way to major stadium shows and amphitheaters… but a hotel is a first for me, let alone a FESTIVAL in a hotel. This past weekend the Sea Port Marina Hotel in Long Beach hosted the Pangea Music Festival, a local showcase of Punk and Rock talent fused with a little Reggae and Ska. Five stages were set up in conference rooms and lounges throughout the hotel, and people came from all over southern California to take part in this event. The night was a sampling of local flavors, all showcasing the unique sounds of bands from the Los Angeles/ San Diego area, with Strung Out and Bullets And Octane headlining the event. New emerging talents such as Forgiving Yesterday and A New Vice found a receptive audience while more seasoned bands such as Against All Odds, the Getdowns, and Longway drew the crowds in from their loyal fan base. I attended Friday’s show and at the stroke of midnight, local punk legends, Strung Out took the stage. Standing room space was scarce and the crowd huddled together as the band opened on "Ultimate Devotion." Within seconds more people poured into the conference room and crowded the stage.
A circle pit opened up as the audience pushed the barricades forward up against the stage, like a pack of hungry dogs looking at raw meat. The band went through their entire discography and pulled out the gems of their career such as "Swan Dive," "Analog," and "Mind Of My Own." Their repertoire went as far back as reviving the songs "Ashes" and "Matchbook," as well as plugging their new works, "Vanity" and "Black Crosses," off their latest release Agents of the Underground. In the most unconventional of places, Strung Out gave an epic set and closed the chapter on day one of the festival.
Warped Envy? Who’s to say? Overall, I think I would have to admit the evening’s biggest downfall was ultimately the distance to which it tried to reach. Though it attempted to be a legitimate festival, it felt more like a frat house party centered among a few stages. An esoteric remark, I’m sure, but when the outside smoker’s lounge is more packed than any stage, I think I’m onto something. The people were there but the crowds were never in attendance until the headliners took to the main stage at the end of the evening.
The talent was diverse and amazing, but no one truly anchored the side stages. With Strung Out and Bullets And Octane on the main stage, the lower stages drew only sparse and disinterested crowds. A prominent Los Angeles band like Longway was able to draw attention whereas a relatively unknown group like Reservoir Tips seemed to get lost in the confusion. My suggestion for next year: fewer stages and fewer bands will hold the audience’s attention longer. Check out the full sets of concert photos: Strung Out, Bullets and Octane, Against All Odds, Longway. >> www.myspace.com/strungout >> www.myspace.com/bulletsandoctane