Despite the energy the band exerted from stage, the sound they were producing needed refining. Yes Charter One Pavilion is an outdoor venue, however the overpowering drums and lead guitar hid the rhythm, vocals, and bass making a very dry sounding performance. Besides the dry sound, Cage has potential to become huge in the neo-punk genre. I can certainly see why Stone Temple Pilots would choose them to be their opening band.
Thirty seconds after the lights went out, a shadow with a lit cigarette crossed the stage halfway, stopped, put the cigarette out, took a sip of a drink, then, while turning around, the guitar, bass, drums, and stage lights turned on. “Trippin’ on a Hole in a Paper Heart” was blasted at us. At first the band looked stiff. Literally, it looked like they forgot to stretch before they went on stage. Everything was on an angle, no curves, no relaxation coming from the stage. “Trippin’” was continued with “Wicked Garden,” “Vasoline,” STP’s new hit “Between the Lines,” “Big Empty,” and “Cinnamon.” Once “Big Empty” was played, STP turned into the band everyone was hoping for- a hard, post-grunge rock band that, like Nirvana, mixes beautiful and cute riffs with heavy guitars and a heavier voice. As they played “Wicked Garden,” lights would turn from a green base with a harmony of blue, yellow, and orange to a solid bright red during which, fans sang, “BURN!!! BURN!!! BURN!!!”
The most interesting part of the concert was what kind of people was attracted to STP. Relaxed country club folk were accounted for as well as many metalheads wearing shirts from System of a Down, Slayer, and Pantera. Although STP’s music does contain deep vocals and a powerful guitar like many metal bands, the attire of the members of STP was that of a club with jeans, collard shirts, and sunglasses (even at night). Stone Temple Pilots did not disappoint as they played into the early minutes of eleven at night. Playing all songs, old and new, covering all genres, and even had time for extra-long intros, which led to many blues riffs and segments and in the end proved they could play the Mississippi Delta. From blues, they crossed over into alternative rock, hard rock, and post-grunge. It was just a shame that it was not a sold out concert because the performances of both Cage the Elephant and Stone Temple Pilots were deserving of it.
