Excitement electrified the cold, chilling air as fans lined up outside the First Unitarian Church and into Chestnut Street. Kids huddled together for warmth and the smell of stale smoke drifted up into the bitter night sky.
On last Thursday, Feb. 10, Dillinger Escape Plan as well as The End, Read Yellow and Trivium played one of the most intimate settings in Philadelphia.
Three Cabrini College students excitedly watched the door for any signs of movement: Ginger Daddona, a sophomore English and communication major, Bobby Maro, a junior English and communication major, and Wayne MacDowell, a senior English and communication major.
“It was a chilly February night in Philadelphia. Outside of the First Unitarian Church, my fellow colleagues of WYBF, and myself, waited to be introduced to Mr. Chris Penne, the drummer of The Dillinger Escape Plan. Being as that WYBF Local Music Director & DJ Wayne MacDowell and Loud Rock DJ Robert Maro headed this interview conducted; I had the opportunity to witness firsthand the thoughts of Chris Penne of the Dillinger Escape Plan,” said Daddona.
After the bands finished warming up, it was time for the interview with the drummer of Dillinger Escape Plan, Chris Penne.
“They met up and everyone in the group was hungry so everyone converged on the pizza shop across from the church. When everyone sat down, Wayne and myself conducted an interview with Chris about touring, life, influences, life growing up, and how Dillinger Escape Plan got started,” said Maro.
“Before hearing the Dillinger Escape Plan, I never have heard such a mix of musical backgrounds with the foundation of hardcore,” said Daddona.
“This being my third time seeing Dillinger Escape Plan at the Church is expected the usual set of old songs and craziness that would spawn from it. However Dillinger played a new song first. Then [they] broke out their hit 43 % Burnt which I am used to seeing played last with the singer breathing fire. Anyway Dillinger played a lot of new songs from their new album Miss Machine and yet played old songs for their long time fans that have seen them play the Church before,” said Maro.
“I witnessed front row of the Dillinger Escape Plan, and to be honest, I have never seen anyone play the drums the way that Chris Penne had in my life. Meanwhile, being clocked in the head with a guitar head a few times as well as being kicked in the head by the guitarist (Brian Benot), I never seen anyone in contemporary music play as powerful and passionate as he and a fellow drummer,” said Daddona.
All of the fans were again impressed by the live show of Dillinger Escape Plan especially in the intimate setting of the First Unitarian Church.
“I was floored! In other words, this show was most likely one of the best shows I have been to in a long time,” said Daddona.
“Everyone seemed to have a good time by all. It was night of surprises, sobriety, and fun. Dillinger Escape Plan has finally hit it big and are reaching all different kinds of people with their music and I couldn’t have been more proud to call myself a fan of their music for the past four years,” said Maro.
Posted to the web by Shane Evans
