INTERVIEWS AND ARTICLES: "GIG REVIEW - APRIL 3RD - THE DARK TOM AND TRAVIS SHOW"
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For the moment, at least, Tom Delonge and Travis Barker's side-project is still one of punk's biggest secrets. One month from now, their other band Blink 182 will be playing no less than four sold-out amphitheater shows in the Southern California area, headlining over both Green Day and Jimmy Eat World. And yet tonight the venerable, 400-capacity Sunset Strip venue The Whiskey A Go-Go is only about three quarters full for one of Box Car Racer's first live outings. 100,000 passionate Blink ticket-buyers in the greater LA area alone would have given their eyeteeth to be here, to see two of their heroes up close and personal, had they even known anything about it. As it is, the only people here are employees of the band's US record label, some close family and friends, like Distillers frontwoman Brody Armstrong, and practically, "no-one else".
Early reports suggest that Box Car Racer serves as Delonge and Barker's outlet for writing songs of a more serious nature than Blink 182's toilet humour and goofball hi-jinks. And if the stark sound adopted by the quartet (completed by Anthony Celestino on bass and 'Over My Dead Body' guitarist David Kennedy) truly is an attempt at heading back to their roots, then this intimate and sweaty club will be the perfect frame for their art. Right now, the Whiskey's PA is playing decade -old, 'Kerplunk'-era Green Day. It gives the proceedings the familiar, pleasant air of nostalgia.
Openers Twig aren't exactly old school, but they do sport vintage '70s hairdos and red silk shirts, so their sense of style seems a little moth-eaten at least. This new crew mix of Elvis Costello and Devo riffs with enough contemporary humour - and tuneful geek-pop hooks - to get the young crowd cheering sonic references that were created long before they were born. However, churning out the titanic riff of Judas Priest's 'The Hellion' is not really a good idea if you don't look like metal gods - we already have one Weezer, guys.
After Twig, almost anything would seem new, and Long Island's The Movielife bring with them a sharp sense of cool and freshness rarely seen in the emo trenches. Singer Vinnie Caruana brims with righteousness and optimism, while the rest of the five-piece play with a loose swing that instantly sets them apart from the genre's typically more strangled and tense acts. With a new album on Drive-Thru Records already out, expect these true heirs of legendary Gorilla Biscuits to go on to achieve yet more acclaim - and possibly even greatness.

And so to the main event. There's still something thrilling about seeing familiar faces in an unfamiliar setting - it's as if some outtake from a movie you've seen a dozen times was suddenly reinserted again without warning. Sure enough, a definite shudder of excitement rushes through the audience when the four Racers descend the stairs to the stage. After taking their positions, Delonge stretches his thin body and, with a quick glance at Barker, starts strumming the chords to opening number 'All Systems Go' - and right from the off, it's apparent that we're not in Blink territory.
For one, the songs are played in a minor key, with slow, chugging paces and angular, unfriendly edges. Like those of Fugazi and Refused - two bands that Delong has admitted being influenced by for this band - they don't ask you to love them, but rather demand patience and understanding. And with lyrics like 'The government is lying/The truth is found in reason', this first song is clearly no 'All The Small Things'. As Delonge explains, the themes he's writing about are far removed from fun-in-the-sun: there's depression, disappointment, a scenario about the end of the world, and one that talks about the aftermath of September 11, complete with imagery of falling and doom.
Introducing 'Maybe I Don't', the frontman says, "This is a pretty heavy song - it's about writing a letter to God when you don't want to die." He allows himself a small grin. "You can cry if you want to." The stark, white lighting adds drama, but ultimately it's not needed. By the time Box Car Racer hit their upcoming first single, the jubilant 'I Feel So', it arrives as a welcome tonic to the prevailing downbeat nature of those that preceded it.
Throughout the 12-song set, the audience listens patiently, with only a few minutes' worth of slamming and pogo-ing, as if they understand that the songs weren't written for that purpose. Maybe that's why several of them will say later that they thought the show was 'just alright'. But there are some special moments: at one point Rancid's Tim Armstrong creeps onto the stage to join the band for 'Cat Like Thief', a song he co-wrote on Box Car Racer's album. "This is Lint", says Delonge by way of introduction, referring to Armstrong's old monicker from the Operation Ivy days. In return Tim smiles and hugs him. Have we mentioned that it's all a little 'old school' tonight?

When Tom, David, Travis and Anthony leave the stage, they quickly rush to their dressing rooms. Some 20 minutes later, Tom Delonge heads outside towards his car. He disappoints a few fans by not signing autographs, but he takes the time to apologise to them. Drained, Box Car Racer's fans walk back to their own rids home, surely wondering how they'll ever laugh along to 'Take Off Your Pants And Jacket' again.

CREDITS: JOSHUA SINDELL // KERRANG! MAGAZINE