Plymouth State held its annual Homecoming and family Celebration event this past weekend. Novelties were handed out, student orgs participated in competitions, and students reunited with their families from all around the country. Part of the annual celebration is a big concert that takes place in the court room upstairs in the Hartman Union Building, and this year Hawthorne Heights was the main performance. Opening up for them was Plymouth's own Legends of Crawford. Both bands gave a taste of some real hardcore music that was truly pulsating.
I walked into the opening set a little late, but as soon as I stepped inside, I knew I was in for a treat. Legends of Crawford are a four piece hardcore band from Plymouth, NH. The boys all met at a house on 6B Crawford St. last school year. One member (one of three vocalists, Ben King) lived at the apartment and the other three attended parties at the legendary house or just hung out with some of the people who lived there. All members shared a love for music, and not just any music but all sorts of rock. Lead member, King, has aspired to be in a band since his younger brother started one up called Young Mountain, but it wasn't until this past summer that Ben finally put together the band of his dreams. Their music is inspired by the memories they shared at 6B throughout the year, and those memories are captured well with their music. At the concert, there wasn't a huge turn-out, but that's what's to be expected at Plymouth State's homecoming. Legends of Crawford definitely brought a large following, though as all their friends were front and center screaming every word to the songs. A circle pit was even started when LOC played their heaviest song- not really what Plymouth students (and their parents) were expecting at the homecoming concert. LOC is a band to watch out for. Their stage presence is impeccable, their lyrics are honest, and the music can only get better with another year of college to look forward to. Their set opened up well to old school band, Hawthorned Heights.
Most students expected Hawthorne Heights to have a mediocre performance, since the band has been off the map for waht seems to be a decade. AP recently listed Hawthorne Heights along with Good Charlotte, Sum 41, Yellowcard, and Simple Plan as the "Comeback Kids". I even laughed a little inside when I heard the old timer was coming to play for homecoming, the only song I think anyone remembers is "Ohio is for Lovers". Sadly, this was the truth and Hawthorne Heights didn't give a stellar performance, and had a smaller turn out than LOC did. The death of their original guitar player and screamer, Casey Calvert, could have to do with the lack of stage presence, because it seemed as though the entire band wasn't very excited about playing for us. Lead singer, JT Woodruff, stood still and sang in his squeaky teenage voice, and the other members participated in cliche rock star acts (the bass player, Matt Ridenour, did some half-way splits and the usual head banging). Despite their lack of an amazing show, the boys of Hawthorne Heights treated the people who put on the show with great respect, which is uncommon these days.
Overall the homecoming celebrat at Plymouth this year was a success. Legends of Crawford had a great show, and definitely made a name for themselves at the concert Saturday night. Hawthorne Heights may hae been a dissapointment to me, but I'm sure it was a good show for the kids that looked up to them back in 2001. Check out Legends of Crawford on their always updated facebook page, and give a listen to Hawthorne Height's new album, Skeletons.
