School of Rock Festival: Day 2
Festival Pier, June 28
The second day of the School of Rock Festival was part student exhibition and part career expo. When not performing, the students of rock glimpsed musicians making a living doing what they love, and scouted career opportunities in folk, punk, new wave, bar and tribute bands.
Taking a scared-straight approach to enlightening their young audience, the Hold Steady recounted sordid tales of drug binges, awkward hookups and adolescent drama. Were it not for the band's unflagging positivism, the kids might have been frightened off the path to adulthood altogether.
Preferring not "to deal with new wave for a second time," the Hold Steady boxed up their merchandise early and took off after Not Waving But Drowning delivered an important lesson about perseverance in the face of adversity. "Officially the quietest band on the School of Rock Fest," the foot-stomping folk rockers played valiantly through "the challenge of so many competing decibels" as their violins and mandolins were buried by the louder bands next door.
The Paul Green School of Rock All Stars played a set of cover songs on the main stage before Devo, including an homage to the flower-potted headliners. The Doobie Brothers' "Jesus Is Just Alright" was entirely too long, but the triple saxophone finale of "Frankenstein" was just right. These kids are technically proficient (Slayer's "Angel of Death" was spot-on), but without taking the next step, they're going to end up in cover bands performing in puddles of vomit and stale beer at frat parties.
Devo is the gold standard for job security in the field of rock 'n' roll. They're not selling out arenas, but they've sustained a long career of making music, and their fans are fanatical enough to dance through the whole set and not run for the exit after hearing "Whip It." Or maybe they knew Mark Mothersbaugh in the guise of Booji Boy was going to toss Super Balls to the crowd at the close of "Beautiful World."
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