Brendza’s beat: Blink 182, Kim + Kanye and Supergroups

brendza'sbeatBy: Zach Brendza | Features Editor

Get Ready for Action

Possibly one of the best selftitled albums will be honored in a three show engagement. Blink 182 will play its Self-titled album, in a celebration of its 10th anniversary, at the Hollywood Paladium (two shows) and at L.A. radio station KROQ’s Red Bull Sound Stage in three separate performances,

It may be too large an assumption, but for me, Blink 182 was the quintessential band of our generation’s teenage years. With them playing their arguably best record in its entirety, it’s more than a little understandable for those of us on the East Coast, let alone anyone outside Southern California, to whine about this one.

A lot of times with our fair city, common complaints like “why didn’t this tour come here?” and “they always skip over us,” seem to come along with major show announcements. That sentiment is definitely true with Blink’s Self-titled shows. But it’s not just us this time.
It’s the whole United States that can complain.

Kimye

The leaves are changing. Pumpkins are being carved (and smashed). Love is in the air. Wait, I think I’m thinking of the wrong season. Not important. What is important though is that Kimye, rap deity Kanye West and celebrity Kim Kardashian got engaged. Finally, am I right? Well that’s as much sarcasm as I can convey through print. I didn’t choose to write about the couple to take shots at them. Well, maybe a few. I do want to give a pat on the back to Kanye, though.

With West’s net worth estimated around $100 million, he had better make the engagement a special one. Premier location: AT&T Park (where San Francisco Giants play), check. Extravagant circumstances: fireworks, 50 piece orchestra and 15-carat ring, check. Perfect moment: Kardashian’s birthday, check. I’m not a Kanye West fan. I like his music, I don’t like him. But he made the right moves on this one. If only the Giants still had Brian Wilson.Then he could have pulled the ring out of his beard Now that would have been the perfect moment. Oh well, better luck next time.

Supergroups to the rescue

You know them. You (may) love them. But they’re here for a limited time only. Yes, they’re supergroups. And they’re not here to stay.

This section is sparked by two things: the small string of shows announced by supergroup United Nations (Geoff Rickly of Thursday, Member of Pianos Become The Teeth) and a mysterious image (four men with animal masks) posted on the website and Facebook of supergroup The Sounds of Animals Fighting, a band that has featured Anthony Green of Circa Survive, Craig Owens of Chiodos, members of RX Bandits, Finch, Good Old War and more. This post could suggest some sort of band activity.

I don’t know if this conversation steps into the philosophical realm, but if supergroups, i.e. members of different bands who form one all-star like band, are so great, why don’t they just stay as such? Which is greater the idea of the supergroup or the supergroup itself? I’m going to return to sea level, because this thought process is getting too deep.

Moral of the story: Supergroups rule. If only for a limited venture.

Out This Week
AFI – Burials
Best Coast – Fade Away
Katy Perry – Prism
Sainthood Reps – Headswell
-All albums released Oct. 22

On the horizon
11/1 Dr. Dog w/ Benny Yurco and the Revealers and Floating Action @ Stage AE
11/2 August Burns Red w/ Blessthefall, Defeater and Beartooth @ Altar Bar
11/5 City and Colour w/ Sleepy Sun @ Stage AE
11/8 Hanson w/ David Ryan Harris @ Carnegie Library Music Hall (Homestead)

Just announced
12/12 Hawthorne Heights w/ special guests @ Altar Bar