Nostalgia is calling, and 15-year-old me is losing it inside as I drive to The Conduit in Winter Park, FL, on the evening of Wednesday, August 13th. For this show, I had the rare opportunity to bring my wife along, who was also raging with nostalgia. Naturally our inner teenage selves were rabid at the opportunity to see a band that's been a part of our youth growing up, and even more so for me having the opportunity to capture it all and share the experience with you all.
Unfortunately, thanks to Florida's infamous summer thunderstorms mixed with the inevitable I-4 traffic, I wasn't able to make the opening bands, which clearly energized the crowd as they waited for Attack Attack! to finally take the stage. For me, however, the night was just getting started.
Originating from Ohio, Attack Attack! reigned down on our youths, gaining widespread attention in the late 2000s with their "electronicore" signature subgenre sound, often referred to as one of the pioneers of "electronicore." Alongside their signature "crabcore" stance, the combination helped define the Myspace-era scene a lot of us were a part of back when that was a thing. Despite the changes over the years in members, disbanding, and regrouping with solid ground to stand on, Attack Attack doesn't seem to be going anywhere anytime soon with a solid lineup of members consisting of Andrew Wetzel on drums, Chris Parketny as lead vocalist and frontman, Ryland Raus on lead guitar and clean vocals, and Cameron Perry on bass guitar and backing vocals.
As the intro brought the band out on stage, they kicked into the set with their new single released in May, "Dance!" There's an instant shift in the crowd's mellow but eager energy to an ignition that sparks the pit to open up immediately, further erupting in waves through the setlist with a solid mix of nostalgic tunes and new music to saturate everyone's satisfaction. The evolution of the large setlist definitely had my emotions and energy all over the place; it was almost surreal in the moment. With every click of my shutter and flash of the strobes on stage, it was giving me "flashbacks of Warped Tour 2011" all over again. The venue was sure as hell packed in like a Warped Crowd of 2011.
Frontman Chris Parketny brought the chaotic energy into the Conduit's intimate setting, making the night feel more like a refreshing but underground throwback than a polished tour stop. From "AC-130" to "Smokahontas" and even "Sexual Man Chocolate," it was definitely everything a longtime fan was expecting on the setlist, and the best part is it sounded absolutely incredible live. But the fun didn't stop there. It's not an AA show without "Stick Stickly" to ice the cake.
Although the show had ended, the fun didn't, as the crowded venue turned attention to the merch tables like vultures enjoying a fresh meal, lined up to get photos and signed memorabilia from members of the band, myself included. Which is one of my favorite things about these smaller, more intimate venues. You don't get that opportunity at stadium shows or festivals. If you haven't had the opportunity to catch a live show, I highly suggest it if they're sliding through your neck of the woods!
SETLIST:
Dance! / Chainless / AC-130 / A For Andrew / Concrete / Dark Waves / All My Life / Karmageddon / Kawaii Cowboy / Dear Wendy / ONE HIT WONDER / Walk On Water / Jump Jump! / Reno, Nevada / Sexual Man Chocolate / Smokahontas / Stick Stickly
