By Chris Moriates
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
The industry line was longer than the general admission at the
House of Blues in Hollywood last Wednesday night.
Members of rock bands Incubus, Live and Lit could be found in
attendance as Hoobastank celebrated the release of its self-titled
major label debut.
The band hails from Agoura, where it built a loyal local
following with its regular Hollywood gigs throughout the last seven
years. Now Hoobastank is cocked and ready to explode out of
Hollywood and take the U.S. by storm. Soon people all over the
world may be uttering the popular phrase, “Hooba…
what?”
The excitement in the room was infectious as Hoobastank fans,
friends and family filled the venue all the way to the paintings on
the ceiling.
Crowd-surfers and moshing quickly ensued after the five locals
took to the stage, receiving a hometown heroes’ welcome.
The group performed songs from its new album, including the
first single, “Crawling in the Dark,” which has
received radio airplay across the country.
There was also a surprise appearance by Ed Kowalczyk, lead
singer of the band Live, as the members sat on tall stools and
performed its song “Running Away,” with acoustic
guitars a la “Unplugged.”
The members of Hoobastank seemed to be really enjoying
themselves on the famous House of Blues stage, constantly flashing
smiles at the audience and pointing to familiar faces in the crowd.
Even lead singer Doug Robb’s grandmother could be spotted
against the upstairs rail rocking out.
Punk music with equally punk-rock spiked hairdos was provided by
Handsome Devil, who warmed up the crowd with its energetic set.
Handsome Devils’ music somehow finds a middle ground between
the punk of bands like Rancid and the pop of bands like Blink
182.
Hoobastank returned to the stage for an encore performance after
fans rabidly chanted the group’s unique name with arms raised
in the air. The encore included the older song “Can I Buy a
Drink,” which was requested throughout the evening by various
fans in between songs.
Hoobastank has been on a tour across the U.S. and the Hollywood
show had a warm feeling surrounding it, like when a best friend
comes home from fall quarter at college and everybody can’t
wait to hear what his life has been like.
The only thing certain is that whatever Hoobastank’s life
was like prior to its CD release, it’s all about to
change.
Hoobastank’s self-titled Island Records debut album is in
stores now. Check out www.hoobastank.com for more.