Much has been said in the past about the amazing live shows DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN puts on, but I had not yet witnessed it. At Blender Theater on Sunday night, December 16th, I was illuminated, in more ways than one.

Footage from an old silent film was shown of a woman being hypnotized leading into the seemingly sudden burst of energy that was 4 of the 5 members of the band exploding on to the stage performing “Panasonic Youth” as if they were shot out of a cannon. There were many things to keep your heart racing – flailing limbs, swinging guitars, stage diving, dizzying lights, constant movement – but the best heart stopper was the heavy, complex, high-energy music.

“43% Burnt” had an added ‘touch’ that night – a random tall man dressed like a skeleton danced across the stage, then stripped down to a Borat-style deep V green thong and made his way off the stage, leaving everyone with their jaws on the jam-packed floor. Needless to say, he was not part of the act but a fan that had found his way on stage.

Songs from the band’s new album, Ire Works, were performed along with classic DEP tracks. Ex-vocalist, Dimitri Minakakis, came on stage to perform a track he guests on from the new record called “Fix Your Face.” Other new tracks “Nong Eye Gong” and “Milk Lizard” paced old school favorites “When Good Dogs Do Bad Things,” “Mullet Burden”, and “Setting Fire To Sleeping Giants.” Bob Meadows from openers, A LIFE ONCE LOST, joined the band on the closer “Sunshine The Werewolf.”

Dillinger vocalist, Greg Puciato, climbed way up to the top of the stage near the curtains during the set and looked like he might jump, but it was new guitarist, Jeff Tuttle, that took a header by the end of the show, jumping off the side of the stage – bloody and limping, he exited. Puciato, brought even more danger to the show breathing fire (something he is known for doing) – nearly setting the whole front row ablaze.

That stop, drop, and roll would have been that audience’s pleasure. As I was leaving, it was all summed up for me. I heard one fan tell another “I got kicked in the back when Ben dove off the stage. Sweet!”

Atreyu’s latest video for their chorus addictive single “Becoming the Bull” is available on MySpaceTV. The OC band is due to release Lead Sails Paper Anchor on August 28th. They wrap up Family Values Tour dates on September 2nd and then headline through the Fall.

Atreyu’s mind-numbing set at Camden, New Jersey is one of many reasons why the Family Values Tour continues to draw a loyal fanbase. Even when vocalist Alex Varkatzas keeps his shirt on, you can’t deny the sweat that his band exudes. Raw talent. Pure attitude. It has been said that “timing is everything” and “hard work pays off in the end” but that is only true when you have the melodic brutal beautiful song after melodic brutal beautiful song to back it all up. Atreyu has earned their chops and we can’t wait for you to hear what they serve up on Lead Sails Paper Anchor.

Check out many other behind-the-scenes clips for the band’s first video for “The Theft” off of Lead Sails Paper Anchor on MySpaceTV – Webisode: The Making of The Theft

When bands actually post to their blog themselves, I wonder if I am a sucker for the street-teamer-posing-as-the-dummer thing but, regardless, Straylight Run’s Will Noon has me hooked. I think there is a misconception on the part of artists that you have to post all the time or that you have to write a lengthy and meaningful letter to the fans on the state of the union. Some day every band will realize that fans, much like artists themselves, just want a personal touch to know there is someone really there. It’s one of the fundamental ideas which gave birth to the Shoutweb site back in 2000 and continues on today. So… kudos to Will!

We think the video for “Soon We’ll Be Living In The Future” off their recent release The Needles The Space is fantastic as you shall soon also see:

We’re bummed we didn’t catch up with Straylight Run to film them for ShoutwebTV for their last date on Warped Tour but the live set rocked!

To catch Straylight Run live out West or in Europe:
Sep 14 2007 – Union Plaza – Salt Lake City, Utah
Sep 22 2007 – End Fest @ Qwest Field – Seattle, Washington
Sep 24 2007 – Manchester University w/ Motion City Soundtrack – Oxford
Sep 25 2007 – Manchester University w/ Motion City Soundtrack – Manchester
Sep 26 2007 – The Leadmill w/ Motion City Soundtrack – Sheffield
Sep 27 2007 – The Academy w/ Motion City Soundtrack – Birmingham
Sep 29 2007 – Garage w/ Motion City Soundtrack – Glasgow
Sep 30 2007 – Temple Bar Music Centre w/ Motion City Soundtrack – Dublin
Oct 2 2007 – The Lemon Grove w/ Motion City Soundtrack – Exeter
Oct 4 2007 – Waterfront w/ Motion City Soundtrack – Norwich, Norfolk
Oct 5 2007 – The Astoria w/ Motion City Soundtrack – London
Oct 6 2007 – Pyramids Centre w/ Motion City Soundtrack – Portsmouth
Oct 7 2007 – Metropolitan University w/ Motion City Soundtrack – Leeds