Starpool and Suburban Legends at House of Blues Anaheim

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Written by Brittany Woolsey

Monday, 11 July 2011 16:46

Orange County showcased some of its brightest local talent Saturday night as ska rockers Starpool and Suburban Legends, along with supporting acts Save the Swim Team, HB Surround Sound and We are the Arsenal, stormed the stage for a night of fun and dancing.

As Suburban Legends approached the stage, the energy was high from both the fans and band. The Huntington Beach band chose a baseball game as the show’s theme, and dressed in matching blue baseball shirts, which they hit out into the crowd. The group was accompanied by several cheerleaders, who either cheered them on or booed them.

The excitement seemed to be a bit too overwhelming, however, for front man Vince Walker. Just into the second song, the singer complained about hurting his knee earlier on in the night and soon collapsed on the stage. It seemed as if it might have been staged, but when Aaron Bertram (trumpet) commanded the curtain be closed, it was clear that something was seriously wrong.

“Vince was a little too excited out of the gates,” Brian Robertson (trombone) said regarding the incident in an interview after the show. “He jumped too high, I think, and then he landed on his knee a little funny. He felt his knee do a little something funny, then thought ‘Hey, I can walk this off,’ and couldn’t.”

However, in true rock star fashion and embracing the theme of their song “Do it for the Kids,” which says to perform for fans no matter what, Walker was revealed on the stage just minutes later in a black knee brace and sitting on a stool, while the other six members performed seemingly slightly-altered choreography.

The group played everything from original songs to covers, such as “Under the Sea” from Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” complete with bubbles floating into the audience.The ska outfit shared that they will be performing at Downtown Disney and Disneyland later this month. They also shared that they will release a new album in 2012, as well as a tour.

“This is the most outrageous show we’ve ever done,” Walker said before ending their set with “High Fives,” which inspired the crowd to dance and high five each other.Suburban Legends plans to keep fans updated on Walker’s condition and whether or not he will be able to play the upcoming shows.

“[Vince is] over in emergency care right now,” Robertson said after the show. “Who knows what it could be. Of course, everyone here is a doctor. Everybody in a bar that drinks is a doctor. So, it could be everything from a torn ACL to a sprain. Obviously, it’s a little silly to speculate, so he’ll get some X-rays and hopefully he’ll be alright.”

After Suburban Legends finished, the crowd began chanting “chocolate penis,” talking about Starpool front man Alan Meade.

With the curtain still closed, Meade began singing, “It’s alright, it’s OK. I’m gonna make it anyway.”

Throughout their set, the band, comprised of formed members of Save Ferris and No Doubt, joked with the crowd.

“You know you’re getting old when like 15 of your friends have vasectomies,” Meade commented.

The singer pointed in awe as a massive circle pit formed with fans skanking and dancing to their songs, such as “Falling Down” and “Give Me Your Love.”

The group also performed “La Luna,” sung in Spanish by Meade and dedicated to Oliver Zavala’s (trumpet) visiting family.

The group also interacted with fans, with Meade jumping into the crowd periodically during the set and inviting fans on stage.

“Who’s feeling gutsy tonight?” Meade asked. “Who wants to come up on stage and dance?”

With that, two fans, Amber and Justin, battled it out and danced against each other. The pair each won a copy of Starpool’s latest album, “Living in Transition,” and a T-shirt.

“We don’t usually do this,” Meade said as he invited Danielle Rondero of Fresno to perform a cover of Save Ferris’ “Superspy.”

When Starpool played the highly-anticipated “Tbone Willy,” Tbone Willy (trombone) himself emerged into the crowd in assless chaps and a cowboy hat, and was carried around by fans in the circle pit while playing his trombone.

“Mr. Isley, can you take us to church?” Meade asked, dressed in a red cape.

With that, the group played a cover of the Isley Brothers’ “Shout,” accompanied by members from previous bands of the night and the entire crowd dancing.

As the night came to a close, it became clear that ska is still very much alive and appreciated in Orange County.