Article and Photos by: Linda Carlson
Columbus, OH – November in Ohio. It can swing either way…cold and bitter, or brisk and chilly. On this November 2 evening, the crowd that formed outside Express Live defied the brisk, chilly and gray day. After all, Good Charlotte was set to perform, and fans had been waiting for years to see them perform live following their hiatus that began in 2011. A little cool weather (and some spitting rain) would not deter them.
There was a full night of music to reward their dedication. First off was The Dose, a duo from southern California. Vocalist and guitarist Indio Downey and drummer/bassist Ralph Alexander create music that is clearly grunge-influenced, but with a more modern edge. For two young men, they put forth a lot of sound, at times lonesome and melancholic, and at others, energized and strong. MonkeyGoose interviewed the duo prior to their set – video coming soon!
Next, Knuckle Puck hit the stage. From Chicago, their emo-infused punk rock set was punctuated by Joe Taylor’s strong vocals and plenty of guitar. They were completely at ease on stage, and the audience responded to their highly expressive set.
Sleeping With Sirens continued rocking the crowd with their own brand of high intensity metal/emo music. This Florida band has become quite seasoned since it formed in 2009. Lead singer Kellin Quinn strolled across the stage with confidence, pausing frequently to belt out piercing tenor vocals that define the band’s sound.
Then came headliner Good Charlotte, who entered the stage wearing street clothes and baseball caps that seemed to visually disconnect from their backdrop banner that depicted each band member’s face as a fierce, sinister mask. Their performance was personal and sincere, with repeated appreciation heaped on the assembled crowd. They performed favorite after favorite to the thrill of their fans. Before each song, lead singer Joel Madden had a little conversation with the audience. He would pick a year (“How about 2002?”) and the crowd would roar. “What were you doing in 2002?” he would ask. For each year he introduced, he shared his own story about that year, and the band would perform a single from that year. From the front of the house to the back, the audience cheered and shouted, danced and roared. There was even a constant stream of crowd-surfers keeping the security staff busy. The set was a brilliant success.
Good Charlotte’s tour continues through November stateside, then moves to Europe late in January 2019. Check for tour dates at www.goodcharlotte.com.
