Sunday 25/02/07 Chiodos, Aiden, Evaline, Dream State @ Taste of Chaos Tour, The Jobing.com Arena, Arizona

In Glendale Arizona two Monoliths face each other, the massive Cardinal Stadium and the Jobing.com Arena. It’s easy to spot the latter as the correct venue because of the huge line forming out front. The arena is still filling up when Mesa’s Dream State opens the show. Winners of the Arizona area’s Ernie Ball Battle Of The Bands this pop-rock group shows us why they won. Lead singer Nick plays an alluring melody on the keys leading into the drifting and ethereal ‘A Place To Rest My Head.’ The next piece ‘Running Into You’ showcases Nikki’s smoky vocals which are laced with wistful angst and quite addicting. Her harmonies blend well with Nick’s vox during ‘Why Not Me’ creating cascading and soaring vocals runs backed by excellent instrumentals.

The pop-punk band Evaline hits us with a surprisingly nasty and forceful performance that can’t be ignored. We can’t take our eyes off of frontman Jonathan Perry who captures the screaming crowd’s heart and soul during ‘Titled In Sarcasm.’ Dramatic and intense ‘A Protest In Lines To Thin To Read’ deals with self mutilation. He gets on top of his keyboard, kneels and slowly stands as the music reaches a crescendo. In the magenta lights he suddenly leaps off the keys lands on the stage then bounds out onto the rail to the delight of the fans who’s hands are all over him. It’s the first time this hack has witnessed this band live but it won’t be the last.

Now for something a bit scary. Aiden the masters of mayhem are about to begin. Wil Francis bounds out onto the stage in suspenders and a derby hat, grins, leans forward and blows the horde a kiss then franticly hurls himself into ‘The Last Sunrise.’ The ravenous mob becomes unhinged during ‘Die Romantic’ and surfers fly forward ten at a time. We finish taking our photos and head up into the stands to watch the spectacle. The arena floor is now three quarters full as Wil divides the crowd in two leaving a clear pathway down the center of the stadium. “Can you handle that Arizona?” he shouts then the band crashes into ‘I Set My Friends On Fire’ as both sides of the arena run toward each other and bodies collide. The whole place transforms into one monstrous deranged mosh pit.