Saturday 05/05/07 The Bravery, Silversun Pickups, Authority Zero @ KFMA Day, Pima Fairgrounds, Arizona

It’s a windy day at the Pima County Fairgrounds as KFMA, the host of ‘The Test Department,’ our personal auditory bible of New Rock, set the stage for a kick ass day of music. Twelve thousand people begin to fill the grassy lawn and the sun baked audience cheers as the punk/skate/reggae band Authority Zero opens the festival. AZ’s airtime favorite ‘No Regrets’ charges and chugs enticing the gathering mob’s participation with an addicting sing along chorus. Vocalist Jason DeVore leaps high in the air to start the soccer hooligan style, fast and cocky piece ‘The Bravery.’  They get things loose with the party song ‘Drunken Sailor’ while everyone yells those swears words men of the sea are so fond of. AZ bombards us with the high speed thrill of ‘One More Minute’ showcasing the Portuguese/Spanish Punk influence in their music, then spicing it with rap and merging all into an intense reggae blend. It’s a work of Art.

The Indie Rock band Silversun Pickups face the setting sun as a brisk breeze blows and proceed to shine. The beach scene rhythm of ‘Little Lover’s So Polite’ sets the pace for a lyrical gem highlighted by bassist Nikki Monninger’s vocal’s which are soft and airy. They enter the trippy zone with ‘Future Foe Scenarios’ a repeat worthy piece that inspires the mob as the smell of herbs fills the air. Recently peaking at #5 on the Hot Modern US Billboard charts ‘Lazy Eye’ quickly seals our infatuation SSP with an open hearted carefree sound. They start a UK tour on May 23 and are most worthy of a visit.