Concert Review: Cobra Starship at the Marquee Theater on October 28th

October 30, 12:41 AMPhoenix Live Music ExaminerAshley Rehnblom

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Phoenix Live Music Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

photo by Getty Images

Last night The OP Tour came to town bringing along VersaEmerge, A Rocket to the Moon, The Maine and Cobra Starship minus one band, Boys Like Girls, who were absent for unknown reasons. Originally scheduled to play at Mesa Amphitheater, the show was moved to the Marquee Theater once Boys Like Girls canceled and Cobra decided to continue the show as a one off headlining gig.

VersaEmerge opened the show with lead singer Sierra Kusterbeck trying to command the attention of the audience who only seemed to be waiting them out for the bands that followed. The native Floridians are new signees to the Fueled by Ramen label that also is home to fellow tour mates Cobra Starship and A Rocket to the Moon. The band has more of a grungier sound than the other bands on the tour who tend to stick to the pop punk side of the rainbow.

A Rocket to the Moon played second and before they even took the stage several teenage girls started screaming “I love you Nick!” at singer Nick Santino. Hailing from outside of Boston, ARTTM started out as just Santino but shortly expanded to a full band with guitarists and a drummer. Signed to Pete Wentz’s Decaydance imprint on Fueled by Ramen, the band sings about girls and falling in love to sweet pop melodies. If you don’t know who they are at this point, you probably know them from their single “Dakota” which was on Fall Out Boy’s “Welcome to the New Administration” viral mix tape that was spread on the internet last fall in anticipation of FOB’s new CD “Folie a Deux” having an original release date that coincided with Election Day. Santino and band got the fans jumping and excited for what was to come during the rest of the night.

Local heroes the Maine drew the biggest reaction from the crowd next to Cobra Starship. Lead singer John O'Callaghan had girls flailing and screaming over him. One girl seemed like she was about to pass out as she experienced random bouts of screaming. The band always draws a huge crowd when they come home and almost everyone in the audience appeared to be singing along to every word coming out of O'Callaghan’s mouth. The band opened their set with a rendition of Def Leppard’s “Pour Some Sugar on Me” which I found hilarious as thesong was originally released before most of their fans were even born. The majority of them only knew the chorus to the song or only knew the song because the Maine re-recorded it.  After the set, one girl actually started sobbing after receiving a set list.

Cobra Starship headlined and the crowd went wild.  They played a variety of hits ranging from their three cds including new songs from their latest CD "Hot Mess".  It was a dance party the entire time they were on stage.  Lead singer, Gabe Saporta, has a sexual prowess that not only commands the crowd but makes all the ladies go wild.  At one point, he got down off the stage and ran along the barricade and girls started piling up just for the chance to even touch him.  One girl behind me exclaimed "I TOUCHED HIM" after her hand brushed up against his skin several feet away.  Cobra played for a little over an hour and for their encore, Saporta and Ryland Blackinton came out and played "Pleasure Ryland" which is a fan favorite.  They finished up the set with their first single off the new CD "Good Girls Go Bad" and their new single "Hot Mess".

For more info: Cobra Starship, The Maine, A Rocket to the Moon, VersaEmerge