The holiday season is often filled with family time, catching up with friends, and reflection. But if you happened to be caught up with your town's music scene, then you might have spent your holiday season in similar fashion to myself and the nearly 3,000 people who sold out a music venue in Kansas City called The Midland. The Midland hosted a local radio station's holiday concert. This particular station specializes in hard rock, so one can imagine that the venue was not filled with "tidings of great joy." Rather the halls were filled with the sounds of Papa Roach and headliners Breaking Benjamin. But to start the night out there was a little bit of Aussie action from a band by the name of Sick Puppies.

The Sick Puppies officially call Sydney their home but unofficially reside in Los Angeles, and in the past year have been on the road in support of not only Breaking Benjamin, but their new album Tri-Polar. As a follow-up to their previous album [and arguably their introduction to the U.S. music scene] Dressed Up As Life, the new album takes the band in a new direction. The previous record wasn't melodic and slow by any stretch of the imagination, though for some reason the new music seems a bit harder and a tad more insane. Naturally, the set was riddled with new hits, one being their new single "You're Going Down." From the first few moments, the anger is completely apparent. And not in just the bellows manufactured deep in Shimon's (lead vox) gut, but the harsh guitar licks that flow throughout. Another number that made the list from the new record was "Street Fighter (War)." Yes, as probably guessed, this song was featured and basically written for the game conveniently titled the same. It's full of the same notions as actual war: unimaginably strong emotions, with equally strong bass riffs and fierce vocals. Not to mention the obvious unhopeful, violence inducing lyrics. Not a typical selection for a set, but it worked.

As if two albums weren't enough to fill a half hour set, the band threw a random number into the mix. For the fans of mid-'90s pop, the Sick Puppies performed a cover of Destiny Child's "Say My Name." Was it perfection? Eh, not so much, but it was definitely entertaining. After getting back to the current decade, they moved on to their final number "Pitiful." A slightly surprising choice, as it was not one of the band's singles from the previous album. Yet it was obviously a crowd pleaser and mostly because it's one of their catchiest tunes (despite the name). As a personal favorite, the lyrics are nearly embedded into my subconscious. And as a number from Dressed Up As Life the music was a little less intense than the rest of the show. Minus the slightly beefed up chorus, a large percentage of the song is soothed over with Shimon's delicate voice. It was an excellent ending to a great set.

Leaving the show the audience had probably lost some hearing, was covered in sweat, but regardless enjoyed some amazing music. And all were perfectly put, in the holiday spirit.

-Rachel Fredrickson

Sick Puppies
Supporting: Breaking Benjamin & Papa Roach
December 11th, 2009
The Midland by AMC
Kansas City, MO

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