The Summer Obsession

...an infatuation...

By: Lynda
Sugarbuzz Correspondent; Atlanta, GA

    Four guys make up one of the hottest new acts to hit the road (and Aug 29,  the stores) in 2006: Luke (vocals/occasional keyboards), Fin (guitar/vocals), Christ (bass/vocals), and Chris (drums). This is one of those "fresh blood", "on the rise", "watch for" bands that will, without a doubt, become your little sister's or your daughter 's newest, well, obsession. Of course, let's not forget all of us big girls who are known to get a little silly over cute band boys who play that poppy punk rock that all our "too cool" friends despise. Well, to them.
    The first time I saw these guys play was at Warped Tour here in Atlanta (28 June). I opted out of The Buzzcocks so I could watch The Summer Obsession (TSO for short) cos I have about  a 4 year history with the drummer (keepin' it real with "the fam"). No, we're not old chums, but I've been a softcore fan of the last band he was in for a few years.
    Miraculously, through some kickass new friends, I was hooked up with 'guest' passes for Warped AND a photo pass. So, I decided to use my good fortune to the height of its extent. My friend Jessica and I stood on the side of the stage to watch a handful of bands-TSO being one of them. I must admit, *that* was a surreal experience as I've seen countless videos over the years showing only the cool and the lucky (and other bands members) standing at the sides of the stages at Warped Tour-and then there we were! I started taking some less-than-impressive photo's (due to the angle I was at), when I was approached by someone who worked with TSO. He told me to do whatever I wanted to get better pixx, but I felt awkward, and don't like being an annoyance, so it took him physically prompting me (aka leading me across the stage only feet behind Chris (drummer) to a better standing spot behind some speakers-!!!) to move before I became less rigid to the idea.
    Sadly, the turn out to see the band was less than adequate- probably, in part, due to the fact that The Buzzcocks played the same time slot and it was their last Warped show. Nonetheless, the guys gave it their all. You couldn't tell if they were playing their hearts out to their hardcore fans down front, or to the geezers sitting in the back of the arena seemingly unaware that there was a band on stage at all (my guess, however, is the former of the two). It's always difficult to watch a good band play to a small audience, and it always not only bewilders me how they can muster enuff fervor to pass it off like it's "no biggie", but makes me proud of and that much more impressed with the band in the end. Such was the case for TSO's Atlanta Warped Tour '06 experience.

left: TSO Warped Tour 28 June '06 Hi-Fi Buys Atlanta, GA right: TSO 6 July '06 Masquerade Atlanta, GA all photo's by: Lynda

    When I saw that TSO was coming back thru Atl (6 July), I instantly wanted to go. It was my mission to have as much material to use to review them as possible. Plus, I just wanted to see and hear them again. I pulled out my magical "I write for Sugarbuzz Magazine" card and was graciously put on a guest list (thanxx again, Fin!). This show was an early one in the Hell room at The Masquerade. My guess is it was so early so that most of the fans (and opening bands) could be home in time for their curfews (I only poke fun out of slight jealously for my youth). At any rate, the kids were there and waited patiently for TSO. A nicely bulked up audience crowded the stage, sang along, watched their favourite band guy crush with sparkling eyes  (well, the girls did), clapped, gave rock hand signs, and filled the room with their screams of adoration.
   I skirted all over the place to take photo's-far less bashful than before. I also made mental notes on how much I really liked them (despite how they fall nowhere near my daily musical listening preference), and which songs stood out more than others-since I only knew a few by title.
    Afterwards, me and the guys chatted a tiny bit, and I bought them some drinks in the Purgatory room (Christ-yes, pronounced as you're wondering-is like a kid coming downstairs at Christmas when he's offered free liquor!). Then, my friend Abbey and I went to balance out our earlier drinking with some late night diner food...oh, not wait. It was barely midnight when we left. Oh yeah...
    To elaborate on the "poppy punk rock" sound I spoke of earlier, not enuff of us who are no longer teenagers or who don't fall into the "scenester" category take this genre seriously. It's a genre that mixes catchy, poppy riffs and choruses with (sometimes) angrier riffs, attitudes, images, and lyrics. Roll your eyes and say "they suck" all you want, but you know that at least one of "them" penetrates your cool facade and gets a song stuck in your head. Not only that, but you've also hated "them", but admit: "the bassist is good, tho" or "the guitarist can play" or "the drummer's bad ass" or "the lead singer has a great voice and can sing"...meaning you hate "them", but (occasionally) "they're" good musicians, "they" write catchy songs, and "their" lyrics aren't so stupid after all. "They", in this case, are The Summer Obsession...

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