I enjoy heading out to listen to bands that which I’m not incredibly familiar; there is always bound to be something unexpected.

Thanks to Radio 92.3‘s Cheap Date night concert Tuesday night at House of Blues, I was in a dream on a cheap date featuring Ohio Sky and The Airborne Toxic Event.

Ohio Sky was beyond unexpected; they were… different. A bit of alt-rock mixed with some sort of strange psychedelic guitar ramblings. But when the lead singer belted, nay screamed his lyrics, it was very reminiscent of Richard Patrick (of Filter fame). But to be honest, I was not alert enough to enjoy them. Even with all that screaming. Definitely, categorized as “Rock Your Face Off.”

I think Airborne Toxic Event was mismatched with their opener, but could have just been my flaky mood. I already had a few songs of TATE on my (crazy) iPod, and wanted to go to their last show at HOB in Cleveland, but missed the opportunity. Mikel Jollett did not disappoint in recreating the hyper-emotional lyrics of his songs live. Every band member is an incredible musician — violin, keyboards… and um, bass guitar played with a bow — yeah, THAT was awesome. Even if I felt as if I was floating along in a strange John Hughes movie montage. What was that? Something in the PBR?

Here’s something I learned at TATE: Compiling a complete setlist is near impossible if: a) you maintain location at the BACK of HOB at the bar, thereby rendering any jotted notes of lyrics into your iPhone completely and utterly useless or b) drink too many PBRs or c) …uh, I forgot.

Setlist:
1 Wishing Well
2 … already second song in, and I have no clue what he’s saying. I think I heard “See you tonight!” *drink PBR #1*
3 Papillon
4 Something New
5 Gasoline
6 Happiness is Overrated
7 Echo Park
8 This Losing
9 Sometime Around Midnight
10 … slow jam time *drink PBR #2
11 …wow PBR #2 is already gone
12 Innocence (double violin sound)

Encore:
(drum solo featuring all the band members… yes, on one drum kit. Awesome!)
13 Does This Mean You’re Moving On?
14 …how does an awesome end-of-the-night song not exist on lyric lists on the web — anyone? Jollett said it was a song about fuck ups, which at this point, seems like a good theme song for me.

Seriously though, I would still like a setlist, if any readers can find one for this show.

I cannot explain to you how AMAZING the encore was — you really had to be at the House of Blues to understand what I mean. It was a combination of brilliant lyrics, beautiful instruments, infectious fans (sold out or close to?) and a totally random, incredibly more upbeat end song that sealed my music night. Highlights: the previously mentioned encore and the songs “Papillon” and “Innocence.”

This was a really fantastic performance by The Airborne Toxic Event — receives Mel’s Crazy iPod Seal of Approval.

How ’bout that? I go to a concert, and I’m not annoyed by any person around me — and the sound guy didn’t eff up. Oh, but wait. I have a virginal review of last week’s Dave Matthews Band concert at Blossom (full setlist available… ha), as well as a few other concert revelations coming up next.

Cheers!