Rock Fist Reviews

Editor’s Blog: 10.13.2009, A Night with Strung Out, The Flatliners, & Pour Habit
~Kris Melton

Last night I had the privilege of interviewing Jake Kiley, guitarist from Strung Out, at The Masquerade in Atlanta, GA. About a year and half ago I got the opportunity to meet Jake, as well as Jason and Bill of Authority Zero, during their tour with Pennywise. The guys are humble, down to earth, and uber cool. They invited me to hang out with them backstage and even hooked me up with some free CDs and merch. It pays to know the band! As if I wasn’t already enough of die hard fan of both bands, after meeting the guys I declared my undying love. Since the guys tour almost constantly, and are always meeting new friendly faces, I took it as an honor that they remembered me and Rock Fist. I touch base with Jake from time to time, so when I saw that Strung Out was coming to Atlanta I had high hopes for obtaining an interview with Mr. Kiley himself. Lucky for me, I’m unforgettable (if nothing else my emails and phone calls make me so), and I once again had the honor of sitting down with the icon himself.

Murphy’s Law: What can go wrong, will go wrong. This was my motto for the evening, initiated by the inconvenience of having my camcorder fail me. Technology must be repelled by my touch, because up until yesterday it worked just dandy. Of course when its go time, the thing doesn’t even want to turn on! However, this wasn’t my first rodeo so I came with back up: the trusty ole tape recorder. This explains why (much to my dismay) the interview wasn’t captured on film, but typed. The silver lining to this predicament is Susie Cuerto of Shock and Awe Photography who was there to take pictures of the bands performing, and was also able to snap some photos during our interview. To add insult to injury, I had left all my business cards at home in my other purse. Amateur mistake! And while everyone I met last night seemed understanding, my biggest fear anytime I’m working a show is to come across unprofessional. Needless to say I will double check my bag before my next show.

The Masquerade was buzzing with people, thus giving the opening bands an enthusiastic crowd to entertain. They were amazingly talented and well received by the crowd. I highly recommend checking out Pour Habit from Long Beach, CA and Flatliners from Toronto, Canada- you will not be disappointed. Reviews on both bands will be coming to RFR soon! Strung Out delivered a high-energy, interactive, and enthralling performance. Because I’m only 5’1”, which meant about 99% of the crowd was taller, I kept to the side of the stage and watched as mosh pits, crowd surfing, and utter chaos ensued.

After the show I met up with the guys from Flatliners and Jake to check out the haunted house that was set-up behind the venue. This had to be a unique treat for the guys, as usually they only see the venue and where they eat while they’re in town. I was glad Atlanta could offer up some added and unexpected fun (although we did discuss the possibility of visiting the notorious Clermont Lounge). If we weren’t friends before the haunted house we certainly were after, as the scaredy cat in me unleashed itself at the sound of a chainsaw chasing me through the dark. I probably tackled half the Flatliners’ band as well as screamed like a slut in a horror movie when one of them appeared through the chokingly thick fog. Good times were had by all, with maybe the exception of the Masquerade employees who were probably wondering when we would finally leave. All in all this was a great night for Rock Fist Reviews, and for me personally. Nights like this one remind me of how much I love my job and how lucky I am to have stepped up to the plate.

COMING SOON:
-Interview with Jake Kiley, guitarist of Strung Out
-Review of Pour Habit’s “Suiticide” Album
-Review of Flatliner’s 10.12.09 Performance/ Album Review
-Performance photos of Strung Out, Flatliners, and Pour Habit by Shock and Awe

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