The Paradise Rock Club had a line over a block long outside of it starting an hour before doors.  At 6PM, when the doors finally open, people flooded in and moved up against the barricade between the crowd and the band.  At 7PM, when Threads of Scarlet went on, they did so with a bang.  They played loud and clear and got the crowd well warmed up to receive the remaining two bands.  The typically four piece alternative rock outfit added a keyboard for the evenings performance, and it was definitely a performance.  I expect to hear a lot more out of them in the future as they will likely be on the rise in the near future. IAMDYNAMITE, the second opener and national tour mates with Sum 41 absolutely killed it.  Chris Martin came on without shoes, and Chris Phillips in a bandana and bright red pants.  The electricity was palpable as they opened up with the single Where Will We Go off of their new album SUPERMEGAFANTASTIC.  Their set was entirely comprised of songs they have put together since renaming themselves IAMDYNAMITE, and it was definitely what the audience needed to get them off of the ground on a cold night like it was.  The harmonies orchestrated between Martin and Phillips were perfect.  Well timed clap-alongs made the audience really get into the music.  Phillips’ unique approach to drum kept the rhythm varied and dynamic, and Martin on the guitar could have easily passed for rhythm and melody, doing his best to create a vibrant sound.  IAMDYNAMITE were fantastic, and if you have the opportunity to see them live, take it.  Martin and Phillips strike their set and go to the merch tables to meet with fans, take pictures, and sign whatever you have on you to be
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When I walked into the Smashing Pumpkins show on December 2nd at Mohegan Sun, I had a little idea of what to expect.  I grew up listening to “Siamese Dream” and “Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness,” so I knew the music, but it was the Smashing Pumpkins concert experience I was lacking.  That changed after that night. Out of all of the shows I have EVER been to, this show was by far the greatest.  My jaw remained dropped from the first note to the last.  Not just because the Smashing Pumpkins delivered sevenfold, but also because the opening act blew everyone away as well.  It really felt like the 90′s grunge and dirty hopelessness came back for a few hours, and for some strange reason, I loved it. The opener Five Knives, was a punk rock, techno/dubstep, kick-in-the-teeth band from hell.  In other words they were amazing.  Led by Ke$ha’s evil twin, Anna Worstell, this band uttered not a single word to the crowd that wasn’t screamed, sung, or rapped, and in its own way, it was awesome.  They were essentially the harbingers of what was to come from the Smashing Pumpkins. Once Five Knives left the stage (and everyones’ minds blown), out came Billy Corgan, Jeff Schroder, Mike Byrne, and Nicole Fiorentino.  These four blew through their whole new album, Oceania, a psychedelic trip through space and the underwater universe.  After finishing the entire album, they played an amazing cover of David Bowie’s “Space Oddity,” and then tore through their best songs, including “Cherub Rock” and “Zero.” This show seemed to never end, but that was why it was so amazing.  When you thought one song was your favorite, the next one became your favorite.  It truly was one of the best shows I have seen and
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