Lenore, Texas Is On Fire,
Death Do Us Part
Tuesday May 18
Rock Island
In my experience with shows at Rock Island that
there are two types of crowds. There are the ones
where everyone is packed in like sardines, so tight
that they either can’t enjoy the band and
just stand there covered in sweat, or just don’t
even notice how packed it is because they’re
so into the show (depending on the band). Then there
are the shows where it’s not sold out, but
may as well be because the kids in the center are
rocking out so hard, that everyone has to file outward
to the edge of the floor to allow the slam-dancing
and moshing to ensue.
Crowds for Lenore
shows fill the latter category.
Lenore always delivers, always. Whether
they know it or not, they can hold their own just
as well as, if not better than a lot of the bands
that pass through Denver on tour. When the Agony
Scene had to cancel due to personal issues,
Lenore filled the spot as the headlining band, and
from the look of the crowd, I don’t think
anyone seemed to mind. Denver kids are always welcoming
of a good ol’ fashioned hometown ho-down.
Despite the fact that I stood in the
back in order to avoid a swift kick to the head,
the raw energy these guys presented on stage was
enough to make me feel like I was right up front,
catching all the beads of sweat and hair whips with
the best of ’em. But really, that’s
the point. Regardless of where you stand, you are
still able to feel the brutality and emotion of
these guys, especially if you have any kind of slight
clue who they are and what they’re about.
Lenore carries this sense of “roots”
about them, and it shows in their performance. I’m
not sure if I feel that way because they’re
from here in Colorado, or if it’s because
they’re still a fairly small band who rely
on and understand the importance of a strong connection
with fans. Maybe it’s because they haven’t
gone Hollywood yet and still have a good sense of
who they are and where they want to go. Hopefully,
when they do get bigger, (which WILL happen) they
won’t lose touch with that aspect of themselves,
and always maintain that sense of connectedness
with their fans; because in my experience, that
connection can just as important as the music.
www.lenorerocks.com
Sarah Conway, May 27, 2005
photo credit: Shannon Axelson
