thePULSEBy Michael Grandone
October 2003 – Grab your board and quirky t-shirt. Don’t forget your buttons and the spikes in your hair. Worcester’s premier, mid-size venue, The Palladium, is hosting the 2003 Skatefest, September 26 and 27.
The two-day event will feature two stages — one downstairs and one upstairs — in order to accommodate some fifty-four bands that will perform.
Drive-Thru Records will provide much of the entertainment. The Starting Line, Home Grown, and Allister are among the acts set to perform. Piebald, Coheed and Cambria, The Movielife, RX Bandits, and Straylight Run (which contains former members of the popular Taking Back Sunday) are also included on the bill which is solid fun, poppy punk the whole way through.
Although there is no official headliner, Montreal, Quebec’s Simple Plan will perform on Saturday as the un-anointed biggest draw of the event.
Simple Plan has received the most success out of any of the other bands appearing. Their clever song “Addicted” enjoys decent rotation on the radio and MTV (it’s the song with the witty line: “I’m a-dic, I’m a-dic-ted to you”). Regardless of any lyrical quirks, Simple Plan leads this punk-pop festival.
The most exciting aspect of Skatefest 2003 will surely be the full-size street course and half pipe that will be set up in the parking lot behind the Palladium. The impromptu skatepark, sponsored by Waterville Valley and The Rye Airfield, will be open to anybody who wants to show off or take his or her best shot on a complete course like the pros skate on during competition. All that is required is a signature on a waiver form, you know, just to make it legal.
Tickets run for $20 for Friday, $25 for Saturday, and $45 for both days—sorry, no two day deals. For information, call (508) 797-9696 or visit the Palladium at 261 Main St., Worcester.
