Live Review for TRAPT's opening band SUPER bob

July 3, 2012  was quite an interesting night. Me and my friends Stephen and Brandon, along with my brother Devan, all headed to Charlotte for a Trapt concert in Amos' Southend Bar. We were excited; it was Devan's first concert and the rest of us had been itching to go to another show. I was excited for Trapt, but I had heard that the opening bands were nothing to ignore either. However, I remembered being pleasantly surprised when I saw Carl Dylan and IAMDYNAMITE open for heavy rockers Sum 41 after hearing very little about them, so I decided not to research these opening bands very much for the same reason. I decided to listen to two songs from each band and I didn't research any more or less than that. The first band I will be reviewing are the rap-rock hellions SUPER bob.

SUPER bob from let to right: Drew Recny, Matt Santoro, Adam Smith, Chris Faircloth

Immediately upon their entry to the stage, I recognized the devious quartet. With their crazy hair styles and numerous amounts of tattoos, they were very distinguishable. Considering that they are a rock band, this is a very good thing. Frontman Matt Santoro, sporting his black-and-red dreadlocks, (which I think by the end of the show, everyone came to love) approached the audience with varying questions, such as the typical pump-you-up type of questions like "Are you ready to make some noise tonight?" and other unexpected, humorous and sarcastic questions like "Who here likes Taylor Swift?". He had a great stage presence; I told Stephen before they even started playing that he reminded me of the famous punk vocalist Iggy Pop. When they started playing their first song, the entire audience was captivated. I will try to paint the picture that is SUPER bob the best I can, but you must see them in action to truly experience it. Imagine the most energetic band you could ever see, and then try to picture something better than that. Bassist Drew Recny laid down thumping rhythms flawlessly while spinning around like a top for almost the entire song. Guitarist Adam Smith, with his beautiful PRS guitars, played catchy industrial-chug metal riffs remiscent of Wisconsin Death Trip-era Static-X and industrial metalheads Powerman 5000. Holding the entire band together was drummer Chris Faircloth, who played super-tight disco beats that made the entire crowd move. These guys looked liked the real deal on stage; a true rock band. Adam Smith is a viking and towers over the crowd; not to mention he makes the best facial expressions in rock history.  Matt spit unapologetic, machine-gun fire pace lines that set the audience on fire, with a voice similar to Sonny Sullivan of nu metallers P.O.D. Standouts in their performance were songs "Super Fly", "Freak", "Cali", "Hollywood", and their rendition of LMFAO's "Sexy And I Know It", which they absolutely tore up and made their own. Honestly their cover was better than the original, by far. They explained very often during their show that they were thankful for the packed audience, and that they "had the best job in the world"; it was obvious to many that they really were passionate about what they were doing. I would not be afraid to say that SUPER bob is unlike any other live act you will ever see, and they are likely to be one of the best, if not THE best live act you will ever see. I have never heard a band before that was able to channel the spontaneity of bands such as System of a Down and the rap-rock angry style of Rage Against the Machine with such fierce velocity and professionalism. They're everything Limp Bizkit wishes they could be and much more. Go out, see them live, and buy their eponymous 2011 release today!

Us with Matt Santoro and Adam Smith. Amazingly genuine and humble people.
[Spencer McCoy Photography 2013]