Anthony Green
September 3, 2008
Culture Room, Ft. Lauderdale
Story and Photos by Liana Minassian
Known for his unusually high vocal range, Anthony Green has cemented his front man status in bands like Saosin, Circa Survive and the Sounds of Animals Fighting. After working on his own material for the past 10 years, Green finally entered the studio this year to record his first full-length solo album entitled Avalon.
While the songs off Avalon are primarily acoustic, they hold true to the core of Green’s songwriting: heart-aching melodies, catchy hooks and cathartic lyrics. After his album was released on Aug. 5, Green embarked on a supporting tour that led him to Ft. Lauderdale at the Culture Room on Sept. 3.
Opening the show was the melodic indie band Person L fronted by Kenneth Vasoli of The Starting Line fame. Person L shot through a tight set, heavy on percussion, which progressed with the addition of another guitar played by keyboardist Nathan Vaeth.
Although their debut album only came out a month ago, the audience was already singing along to "Wooden Soldiers," and Vasoli led them in a chant of "And wooden soldiers catch their breath / And everyone can rest / When wooden soldiers catch their breath." Vasoli was mesmerizing to watch, gyrating and shaking his body much like Thom Yorke of Radiohead. Not surprisingly, Radiohead is listed as an influence on their MySpace, and the name Person L also refers to Radiohead’s album Kid A. While the crowd was receptive to Person L it was clear that everyone was really there to catch a glimpse of Anthony Green, "a very sexy beast," as Vasoli called him.
Kenny Vasoli, vocals and guitarist for Person L
Luckily everyone stuck around for Good Old War, an indie-folk rock band that was featured on Avalon. Their catchy songs and pleasing two-part harmonies incited many a handclapping session and kept the audience content. Much to the excitement of the crowd, Green came out to sing with GOW’s vocalist Keith Goodwin.
Unfortunately for GOW, that brief taste of Green’s soaring voice led to some disrespect on the audience’s part, as one irritated fan called guitarist Dan Schwartz "gay," frustrating Goodwin and members of the audience throughout their set.
Anthony Green finally hit the stage around 10 p.m., and adoration exploded from the crowd like a shaken soda can. Girls screamed, flash bulbs went off, and roses flew at his feet. GOW tore it up with Green opening his set with "Baby Girl" and "She Loves Me" with the addition of some other musicians from Circa Survive.
Anthony Green, Vocals and Guitarist
Green kept the energy high, throwing himself around the stage and delivering his cathartic lyrics with unwavering passion. Only towards the middle did things slow down as he focused more on the acoustic songs off Avalon with Schwartz doing backup vocals and guitar. "Califone" got the audience swaying, and even some lighters were raised.
Between songs, Green reprimanded the audience for insulting Schwartz, insisting that nobody insults his "family," which led to an apology. But several other times throughout the show, some male fans shouted inappropriate things at Green that left him asking, "How am I supposed to play and be all serious after that?"
Fortunately, he managed and closed the show by playing two Circa Survive songs that incited mass shoving and crowd surfing as fans fought to get close enough to sing along with Green and bathe in his rock star glow.
Check out Anthony Green's CD, Avalon, released August 5th. Let us know if you like it at: outloud@outloud.com.
Anthony Green, Vocals & Guitar
Dan Schwartz, Guitar & Vocals, of Good Old War
Kenny Vasoli, Guitar & Vocals,
Brian Medlin, Drums & Percussion,
& Charles Schnieder, Bass, of Person L