Life of Agony @ Highline Ballroom, pics, setlist, video, and more

Keith Caputo @ Highline Ballroom

from keith caputo via Twitter:
Thank you NYC for an amazing sold out Runk Pock gig!!! Thanks to fam, crew, Loa, friends & all of the fans for making it special!!!! Peace!

Life of Agony performed the second of two 20 year anniversary shows at the luxurious Highline Ballroom in New York City. While the band didn’t play its entire River Runs Red album like they did at The Starland Ballroom just two weeks ago, they did play most of the album and the same six encore songs from that show. One Brick Down, AnAka, and Dead Men Dreaming opened the show. They provided a heavy delight for some and not so much for others based on what I heard. But there was a legion of AnAka fans wearing their t-shirt, but the set wasn't too impressive. Dead Men Dreaming held it together nicely and gave an interesting dynamic with the keyboard. But it was the first band, One Brick Down from New Jersey who really impressed. They had a nice heavy sound and two sets of percussion providing a nice groove and some people were even moshing for them.

Then at 10pm, one by one of Life of Agony proceeded to come on stage, first Joey Z, then Alan Robert, Sal Abruscato, and finally Keith Caputo. They kicked it off with “Through and Through” from their debut River Runs Red, followed by the titled track into “Method of Groove,” where Joey Z takes the name of his studio from. On “Weeds,” the only song the band played from their third album Soul Search Son, Alan’s guitar sounded impressive and crisp. Then Alan joked about how pretty soon the band’s going to be singing lost at 42. When “Lost at 22,” I couldn’t help but sing along and head bang to the crunch groovy during which Caputo sings “If I knew how to fly, I’d fly away…cause I’m lost at 22,” lyrics that most 22 year old might actually relate to. I don't’ remember which song but Keith dedicated a song to all the black sheep. During “The Day He Died,” a song about the passing of his father, it was obvious Keith Caputo got very emotional. When the song finished he walked near Joey Z and hugged him and then said “Wow, I almost cried. I’m a fucking pussy.” This slightly bothered me because “pussy” is always used to mean weak when in reality the female organ, which I think people forget it refers to, is far from it if it can stretch to the point where a baby comes out. But I didn’t let it get to me.

The band closed the set with “Respect” before coming out for two encore songs. The first was “Underground” where Keith jumped into the crowd and crowd surf as he sang, “Calling from the underground!” there was a guest backing vocalist next Alan to but I couldn’t make out who it was. Before finishing the band thanked everyone for coming and announced the show was sold out, something they apparently didn’t expect. Keith also said, “one love. Make babies. I don’t know,” then he laughed. “This Time” closed the set. Joey Z handed out guitar pics to some people up front and I scored one, as well one of Sal’s drum sticks which hit my face, then landed into arms. It was a wonderful night.

The fact that this Brooklyn band have been able to last for two decades in a true testament to the band’s hardwork, perseverance, and good music. Even other Brooklyn band’s in the hardrock scene like Biohazard, Type O Negative, and Candiria have been kicking it for years. Life of Agony has gained a loyal, and dedicated fan base with four great releases under their belt. So many bands don’t last either because of musical differences, issues with members, moving away, wanting to purse a different career path or something else but LOA has kept themselves alive. Life of Agony have kept it tight release what Keith Caputo has called “very unconventional hard edged” music. The songs are raw, deep, compelling, and moving with a groove that hooks you in.

Montage of clips from the show


Keith Caputo offered the words in regards to making new music, in an interview at 89.5 FM WSOU in July 2008:

There is no beginning. There is no end. What we did, we did great together. We definetely do love each other. We hate each other. What we did, we did in a banging way. We set a precedence for many, many, many bands. Still to this day lyrical in the market in our music especially with the record broken valley I think we’re still a very unconventional hard edged band. I wouldn't call us hardcore. I wouldn't call us metal. I wouldn't put us in a box. I think that’s dangerous. I think that destroyed life of agony. If destroyed our hearts. It destroyed our inspiration. We were very creative individuals with very different angles in life and with music. a lot of our own fans put us in a box. A lot of industry people put us in a box. Agencies. Management. Everyone. Everyone’s got to. We never played that game. We don’t play that game. We don't play no game. We play our own game. That’s why a name like ours has been household and has been real. What we do is real. What we do is bloody, lyrically. No one can touch us. Lyrically and melodically we’ve done in a great, great way. We respect what we do. Personally I’m not the type kind of guy. I don't like to place the memories of people. I don’t. Life is about being in the now not in the yesterday. People who are in the yesterday are playing a dangerous game. I don’t like to play dangerous games like that. I’ve played with it. Life of agony is an emotional outfit. Especially me. Being that I’m singing the songs. I’m lyrically getting in touch. It’s an emotional problem for me sometimes to be singing things I’ve felt when I’m 19. I’m 35 years old now. I can do it. I’ve done it. I still do it with all the heart I possibly can. Um, I lost track. Damn….Life of agony I don’t want it to be a shadow band. I want people to remember us. Life is uncertain. You take twists and turns. I enjoyed all the great times, all the band times.

Life of Agony

Life of Agony Setlist:

1. Through and Through
2. River Runs Red
3. Method of Groove
4. Other Side of the River
5. Love to Let you Down
6. Weeds
7. I Regret
8. Lost at 22
9. Bad Seed
10. The Day He Died
11. My Eyes
12. Respect

Encore:
13. Underground
14. This Time

Dead Men Dreaming




AnAkA






One Brick Down