SHOW PREVIEW:
Vans Warped Tour
C!NCC!
July 13, 2016
I’ve been feverishly checking out the line-up for the Vans Warped Tour. There are a few recognizable bands, like SUM 41 and Less than Jake. Then there are bands that I have never heard of. As I scrolled down the list, “Chunk! No, Captain Chunk!” (C!NCC!) jumped out at me.
A post-hardcore rock band from France was what I had stumbled upon. The band formed in 2007, and in 2013 they were signed to Fearless Records. Bertrand “Bert” Poncet, Eric Poncet, Paul “Wilson” Cordebard, Mathias Rigal and Bastien Lafaye make up this talent quintet. Their songs are very pop rock, with metal sounds mixed in. Like most post-hardcore bands, there is a very clean boy band melody and vocal, until the sound switches rapidly to a screaming/growling tone. They stated that Fearless Records was “one of the best labels out there for that kind of music”. When this kind is done right, it’s my favorite kind of music to listen too.
I found myself watching their music videos, and smiling. They were amusing and the furthest thing from serious you could imagine. Their “Haters Gonna Hate” video featured the band, fighting against their alter-egos with paint balloons. Other videos included birds, costumes, parties, concert footage, and special effects. I found myself thinking, I would love to hang out with these guys, they seem like such fun. Then one of them did a backflip into a pool and I remembered that I was old, and I will be happy to watch them perform on stage.
The band had some trouble breaking into the industry in their native France, citing that there was “no rock scene” there. Places like Asia and North America couldn’t get enough of them. The band came to the United States for a tour in 2012, and did so exceedingly well, their tour dates started expanding. They supported Attack-Attack!, This Means War, and were on the Vans Warped Tour 2012 line up. Still, with all this, I hadn’t heard of them.
They have great music; a perfect mix of pop rock and metal. They have funny, light hearted videos. Did I mention 3 studio albums? They have also released 2 cover songs! Smash Mouths “All Star” and Kesha’s “We R Who We R” on the “Punk goes…” albums, and they have been touring around the US for a few years!
At least I can say “better late then never”. If you were as clueless as I was, take a listen below and come out to support them at your local Vans Warped Tour date!