Circa Survive comes alive at TLA

By Bridget Konczyk
Collegian Reporter
August 30, 2006

In the music world, summer is associated with sold-out concerts, large venues and overpriced tickets. This summer, however, seemed different, with many popular bands choosing to host their own tours rather than latching onto Warped Tour or other multi-band tours. On Aug. 13, the Theatre of Living Arts hosted the second to last show on Circa Survive’s “Twilight Army Tour.” Easily selling out, the “Twilight Army Tour” proved to be one of the best shows of the summer.

With opening bands such as The Receiving End of Sirens, Portugal the Man, Keating and a last minute addition for local band Days Away, it is no surprise that the show sold out. Opening the night, Keating, out of Nashville, Tenn., wowed the crowd with songs from their Thieves EP.

Next up was Portugal the Man, whose lead singer looked as though he had just played a role in a production of Charles Dickens novel, wearing knickers and a jeff cap on stage. Always a favorite with the Philadelphia crowd, Portugal the Man had the crowd dancing and singing along to songs from the group’s Waiter: You Vultures! EP and newly released Devil Say I, I Say AIR EP.

Philadelphia’s own, Days Away, mellowed the crowd out a bit playing songs from its God and Mars EP. Days Away shared the stage with Circa Survive for the first four weeks of the “Twilight Army Tour” and were added to the Philadelphia show just days before the date. Finally, The Receiving End of Sirens stepped up to get the crowd going before Circa Survive hit the stage.

With anticipation, the crowd waited while the stage was changed for Circa Survive to begin playing. As large screens depicted images from the cover of the band’s album Juturna and bobble-head owls, Circa Survive took the stage. Circa Survive front man Anthony Green gave a mind-blowing performance. However, one could hardly hear Green’s vocals because every mouth in the crowd was singing along. As he sang “We’re All Thieves,” from Juturna, Green was so addicted to his performance that his eyes rolled up into the back of his head.

Not many in the crowd were alarmed by this, as stunts like this are a typical occurrence at Circa Survive shows. As the set list was dwindling, Circa Survive played the crowd favorite “Wish Resign,” in which Green encouraged the crowd to sing along. Just before performing “That’s Why You Never Mention My Name To Them…,” Anthony looked up to the balcony and said, “Cue the balls.”

At that point, 50 green glowing beach balls were sent into the crowd, resulting in a battle of sorts between Circa Survive’s stagehands and the rowdy crowd. By the end of the evening, the sticky and sweaty crowd exited one of the most amazing shows of the summer. To find out more on Circa Survive and the other bands on the “Twilight Army Tour,” check them out at myspace.com/circasurvive.

konczykb1@lasalle.edu