Sunday 16/09/07 Paramore, Operator, Silverstein, Scary Kids Scaring Kids @ Tucson Electric Park, Arizona

Roving monsoons dot the horizon and the air is cool for Southern Arizona’s most anticipated event, KFMA Fall Ball. This rogue radio station is a leader in new rock and yearly brings us an outstanding sampling of our favorite treats. Today Smashing Pumpkins headlines the show but the entire line up is intensely awesome. We get our press credentials then run to catch Scary Kids Scaring Kids. The area in front of the stage is packed and the horde unruly as slamming drums wake the dead and ‘The City Sleeps In Flames’ sends crowd surfers over the edge. This post-hardcore band has the original animal present, Pouyan on keyboards. He throws himself about like a banshee and stirs up the mob whilst vocalist Tyson Stevens timing is spot on. ‘Free Again’ from their just released self titled album shows originality and diversity with grating screams, a driving pace and soft gentle bridges, its a pure pleasure to hear live.

Ok, its afternoon and no audience should be this out of control so early on. It must be Silverstein’s fault. Frontman Shane Todd directs the mosh pit “bigger, bigger…bigger!” he cries then lets lose with ‘Defend You.’ He jumps onto the rail and is sucked into the sea of hands as the song builds, grumbles and roars. ‘Smile In Your Sleep’ is freakin well balanced with an exquisite deceleration that’s almost as good as sex. From their new album Arrivals And Departures, ‘If You Could See Into My Soul’ has a cockeyed guitar intro and shows off the awesome screamo of bassist Bill Hamilton. The band is named after shel silverstein the poet and they sometimes use his themes and words in their lyrics…hmmm would shel approve?

Self confident, cocky and rude Johnny Strong of Operator has a striking steely quality to his vocals and a commanding presence. They play ‘Soulcrusher’ which recently hit the airwaves and number 8 on Billboard’s Hot Mainstream Rock Chart. They quickly fill the horde’s need for stunning metal flavored guitar licks then a couple of band members get into a fight on stage. We’re dodging surfers, security, flying water bottles and shoes in the photo pit then run for cover for the rest of their set. Well at least it isn’t bottles of piss (we hope).