The Audition bassist, Joe Lussa
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The Audition
with Envy on the Coast and Danger Radio
The Culture Room - Jan. 19, 2008
By Julio D. Anta
House lights dim and club lights flash – it’s Saturday night and the Seattle indie-funk band, Danger Radio just hit the stage with a roar of energy. Most of their set found vocalist Andrew De Torres dancing around the crowded stage, while his perfect pitch, heart-break inspired lyrics hit soft spots with the largely 16 and under crowd that’s gathered.
We were in the Ft. Lauderdale’s small but popular music venue, The Culture Room, and excitement abounded. Not so much for the band on-stage (though they’re arguably the best live performers), but for those that were to follow. Envy on the Coast was next with the Pac Sun Tour headliners, The Audition following.
Once Envy hit the stage, shrieks rivaled only to those of ’90s boy band excitement were heard across the venue, and "Ryan [Hunter, singer/ guitarist], you’re so hot!" chants were far from few. Annoyances generated by the "fans" aside, the band put on a solid performance, playing tracks off their Envy on the Coast EP and the newly released full-length album Lucy Gray. Of the EP the song "Suckerpunch" was the best received, but it paled in comparison to the reaction of current single, "Sugar Skulls" from Lucy Gray. After an almost hourlong set, Envy on the Coast finally walked off stage to the best response of the night.
As the anticipation for headliners The Audition increased, so did the heat and numbers. It seemed as if the whole Ft. Lauderdale scene was coming out of the woodwork, and just when it felt like the floor couldn’t get anymore crowded, The Audition hit the stage. Their second full-length album Champion was two days away from finally seeing release and the band was more than pumped to play for the almost sold-out SoFla crowd.
Like the last time that the band was in town opening for Boys Like Girls, The Audition was full of enthusiasm and quirky banter in between songs. Overall, The Audition was a huge surprise. Most of the audience knew all the words to the songs off Controversy Loves Company, the band’s first full-length album and the yet-to-be-released Champion.
Overall, Pac Sun did a great job booking this year’s bands. Danger Radio brought the dance, Envy on the Coast brought the rock and The Audition brought the pop – a perfectly mixed line-up and great show.
Let us know what you think, email us at: outloud@outloud.com.