your mouth is like a magazine

Their “eulogy is like poetry, But your mouth is like a magazine.” Their message to the masses consists of two words. Two words that for most make no logical impact upon the music scene. Two words that are chanted intermittently throughout their live set. Two words that embody the passion and determination within their fans and the band themselves. Two words spoken in a drawled and charming Southern accent: Fo Sho. When asked for final comments or words for their fans, these two words are repeated: Fo Sho. It sums up what the band is about – they are confident in their purpose, in their existence, and in their contribution to the music scene. Showbread has come to dominate the industry and is taking no prisoners.

Chain Reaction, a badly ventilated but understandably popular venue in Southern California, was the most appropriate location for Showbread’s CD release show. However, the line-up was not the most appropriate choice for Showbread’s particular genre. A line-up needs to be similar, mesh well with the headliner, and appease the crowd that might not care about the other bands playing. But, that said, the line-up should not be completely eclectic and keep the crowd wondering what is coming next and what the connection factor is between bands.

Paulson, a mellow indie rock outfit, opened the bill and were quite refreshing with their take on music. Screaming wasn’t necessary to make this band stand out – the frontman, Logan, simply hid behind his well-creased baseball cap and crooned heartfelt lyrics at the top of his passion-filled lungs. Next up was a band that doesn’t need specific mention. Their stage presence was lackluster despite the fact that the band had well-over the necessary number of musicians – at least six boys, all well-versed in Scene Fashion 101, took the stage. Not very pumped, I was leery to expect much from the next band but The Finalist doused my fear with a healthy dose of talent and enthusiasm. With a stunning similarity to the recently defunct LetterKills, this band has found a prominent place within my music collection.

Showbread, always amazing and always alluring, took the stage in outlandish costumes centered around a theme mingled with hints of a jungle safari and the presence Indiana Jones. When asked about the inspiration behind the olive green bottoms, black tops, suspenders, and the fishnets paired with cowboy boots that frontman, Josh Dies, had donned, Josh simply responded “…they wouldn’t wear the banana suits that I had set out earlier.” That random fashion embodies the personality of the band – they are refreshing and unexpected. Their lyrics are spiritual and relevant within a scene dominated by anger and singers screaming and wailing obscenities.

The crowd – formerly several feet back from the stage and distracted with things other than music – rushed forward in an effort to be as close to Showbread as possible. Overwhelmed with the intensity of the crowd and being impaled with the edge of the stage, I enjoyed every last track of Showbread’s set. My friends bailed out, not wanting to be drowned in the sweat of others or bruised by those in the circle pit, leaving me to photograph, observe, and fend for myself. The set consisted of old songs and new songs – involving all of their fans: those well-versed in the music and those only familiar with the single, “Mouth Like A Magazine.”

The band – stage presence in tact and utilized as if they were playing a stadium show – was breathtaking. Their energy filled the room and the crowd pulsed in rhythm with the beats of the drums, the wailing of the guitars, and the intoxicating intensity of the vocals. Each song was treated with the same importance and power as the last – nothing hindering their message to the masses and their spiritual calling. They offer the generation that feels comforted by the hardcore genre, an outlet not laced with obscenities and anger-driven motives. So discard the “Fuck You’s”, the contempt for your surroundings, the feelings of helplessness, the superficiality or you’ll be “Dead By Dawn.”
(pic credit: kelsea olivia)