It was around 15 years ago that I finally got to see Coalesce. They booked the Worcester Palladium—and not the huge stage, but the Palladium Upstairs, a much more intimate atmosphere. At that time, unfortunately, Reggie & The Full Effect was sucking time away from real bands like Coalesce and The Get Up Kids. So when Coalesce announced a four-date tour I was hooked. Not to mention that the shows were around Thanksgiving and, being vegetarian at the time, I could avoid being around my family and their attempts at Tofurkey.
At any rate, I drove up to the show and got to watch Isis open up—no small bonus. Coalesce absolutely killed it. They played everything I had ever wanted to hear them play and they did so in a small, packed room full of sweaty adolescents who dyed their hair black and stretched their ears in attempts at conforming to non-conformity (me included).
That night even proved fateful because when I drove my friends back to their dormitory at Clark University I met a guy named Bob. He and I stayed up until the early morning hours playing guitar together. Bob would not only become a dear friend but a band-mate for the next four or five years. So not only did I get to see Isis and Coalesce, but my life actually changed for the better…before it descended into the mess it clearly is today.
And so, I ask you, “What more do you want from me? Some sort of apology? Well, I promise that forgiveness is the most you’ll get. And what I demand of you is to put up or shut up. So make your decision. But remember, you can’t kill us all!”
– Manny-O-War
Nine Circles 