Kurt Vatland

This is a special feature by Kurt Vatland; Rockstar, Poet, and our new writer covering the underground music scene.

'The Used' Live in Concert: Who 'New'?

While driving to the Quest Club in Minneapolis, MN on a crappy and cold Tuesday evening to see The Used I couldn’t help but think about the night before. The thought was that this concert couldn’t possibly outdo the Deftones with an awesome opening band called Dreg. The line for The Used concert however was wrapped around the building, passed the tour busses, up towards Sex World before the doors had even opened. The show was completely sold out, which surprised me, but then there was the onset of 15 year old girls prowling up and down the line. Them announcing before the patrons that they would gladly give head for a ticket changed my perception of the dedication of these fans and the promise of this show.

I became a fan of The Used two summers ago while listening to a sampler disc in my shi#y, upstairs attic apartment in Dinkytown, Minneapolis. After being introduced to The Used via The Osbornes on MTV I was less than thrilled to see this band start making it on the "Alternative Market" with it's success. Then after hearing this disc I began to appreciate this group much more. The band was solid, inventive, and the singer Burt (Kelly's former flame) actually has a great approach and delivery. At the same time saying something that has some meaning. This being two summers ago still didn’t get me to rush out and buy an album, but it did keep my eyes open for the band.

Two years pass by and I’m in Rochester, MN after a break up and thinking what the f#$k had happened to me? Then The Used (thanks to a friend that is a fan) came out with an unbelievable album. I have listened all the way through it several times... something you cannot do with most music today. It's a record that has the quality in production as well as song writing to make you want to listen to it all the way through. The first album is fantastic, this album rules. I have become and avid listener of the group, and then WHAMMM... The Used are came to the Quest Club for $15 (OK $30 with all the Ticketmaster bulls#t). So I got tickets and went, thanks to a recently maxed out credit card.

The line moved fast and the atmosphere was one of electric porportions. I saw a lot of the young high school crowd filled with the energy of pep really knowing a friend will be having a keg later. The crowd was definetley a reason why music is changing. This crowd was dedicated, the under 18 crowd does not take anything for granted, the band spits- the crowd swallows.. its beautiful. Then there is the young college crowd, which was more evident than I first anticiapted, followed closely by the 21 and up crowd. This group of fellow audience members took a much milder approach to the whole thing. As the night wore on I noticed I was in a growing crowd with much more love and dedication to this band than I had expected.

With Alternative Press Magazine poster boys opening acts The Plague and Atreyu, the The Used walked on stage. The crowd was already in a frenzy and moshing from the first onset of music off the openers. The heat from the mashed bodies below began to rise to the balcony crowd who were enjoying their cold beer and mixed drinks. The Used came out and started the set with the single "Take It Away" off their new hit record. The album was just released a few weeks ago and the crowd knew every word. I’ll gladly admit, I did as well. It was a high energy show with lights that were much like Pink Floyd on cocaine. The crowd was reminiscent of Nirvana loyalty, shouting back everything on cue.

The band ripped through the set list at a blistering pace only to take a moment to have a little time with the audience. I remember Burt saying something like: "Hello Minneapolis, how the f#%k you doing?". The crowd was as deafening as the Northwest 747's taking off from Minneapolis international. "I guess we have some fans here huh?" He said back to his bandmates while the crowd cheered even louder. He was making his statement a fact in the mind of any critic within a 700 miles. Then I noticed, this band and most apparently Burt had every person in the entire Quest on the tips of his fingers. Its was magic, and I knew that I was witnessing something I hadn’t seen or felt in a long time. This was a band worth all the hype and all the press. I’ve been reading heavily for the past few months, they really had something to offer the disillusioned rock fan.

High fives to the fans in the front, looking everyone in the eye and totally living the moment. Burt was truly amazing! One could go as far to saying he is arguably one of the better frontmen in the business today. What the f#%k did I just say? Yeah.. he was that good. The band was perfect; every note, everything about the show, the performance, and then the songs that you thought they wouldn’t play and they did. I think one of the best things about the show was Burt's unrelenting rant on how "what a dumb bitch Ashley Simpson is..." It got the whole crowd laughing and taunting the famous sister of singer Jessica Simpson who had just biffed a lip sync on Saturday Night Live a couple nights before. Until that moment I didn’t know how far Burt would go with his Rockstar platform he was given the other night. He passed the test, proving he is one that doesn’t believe in a fake either.... Perhaps something with his Osborne’s familiarity he had to shake from image? He is uncompromising, and defiant, but has a lovable side all his own. This, backed with a fan base that would jump off the IDS Building in downtown for him is real. A fan threw onstage a Burt Doll from Sesame Street's 'Burt and Ernie'.. Burt picked up the doll and said with out hesitation: " I bet you all want me to bite the head off this thing don’t ya?" The audience responded by going wild.. So what did he do? He did it all with a "that’s what I get for being with an Osbourne" attitude. It was great, a rockstar with a sense of humor about himself. Then he followed it all up with a little private talk with the audience, one that would remind me of a Doors concert of the generations passed. The lights dimmed.. The spotlight closed in on Burt, with the crowd all there at attention. You could hear a pin drop when he was speaking. Going on about how we need to have people close to us and love them. He then urged the audience (if they had someone they loved next to them) to grab them and hold them..... Then came a favorite song of mine.. "Lunacy Fringe."

They finished up the set and left the sold out Quest screaming for more. It was amazing to see the bodies below and the body surfers hopping on for one more ride. Leaving us upstairs wiping the sweat off of our foreheads from the sweltering heat created below. Rising to the roof which had been raised.

This concert was a great one, I recommend seeing The Used if they come around your neck of the woods. Great band, great songs, great performance, and great performers. I give them 4.5 stars out 5. This show had all the stops when it comes down to it: sound, lights, and audience that backed it all up. Props to The Used for putting on an unforgettable show. Now go buy the record folks if want to have anything in your CD player that is making a new road in the alternative music scene with substance.

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Black Box Found

Kurt Vatland

After debuting at VigilStock-04 for late Blind Melon singer Shannon Hoon in his hometown of Lafayette, Indiana this past September, Black Box Found has taken yet another transformation. The band released Ryan Johnson (drums) and just recently let go of Justin Schommer (lead guitar) for undisclosed reasons. For the Vigil show Adam Smith filled in on drums by learning BBF's hour and a half set in the hotel room only a few hours prior to showtime. His talents are undeniable, and the band, as well as the fans, appreciated his hard work to make it a great set. However, his location of residence makes it impossible for the band to continue working with him. The band now masterminded by Kurt Vatland and John Laberda have gone ahead together. They are now using session musicians to fill the ranks until the record is finished and tour plans are finalized.

"I finally have someone aboard that I really can trust and feel totally comfortable working with.. I mean we finish each others sentences before we can say them.. we’re on the same page…. The whole band vision is a million times more grandeur because of this phenomenon... things are happening naturally that just couldn’t happen before..." -said Vatland of working with Laberda. John, a production and engineering student at Minneapolis's famed IPR (Institute of Production and Recording) also amplifies the duo’s ability to maintain artistic control while tapping into a music industry goldmine and it's resources.

The main influences are still consisting of the Velvet Underground and Blind Melon but now have moved headlong into a dimension more related to The Mars Volta, Nirvana, and The Doors. By adding more of a psychedelic edge atop a driving alternative grit, they have a throwback quality but with a modern image and appeal. Black Box Found may have similarities (to other bands), but the band has their own chemistry and charisma entirely its own. This makes a very unique sound, crafted to giving it a head on the competition. Look for this band to be moving up the ranks of the Midwest music scene with their debut EP. Their strategy for making the big time that could cause for a real stir within the current rock forum. "It doesn’t matter how good you are, without integrity throughout the band concept itself and its true vision.. you have nothing."-said Vatland. Black Box Found screams integrity which demands respect, and will be showing it off very soon. This is one band that’s taking off from its rock'n roll launchpad ready to challenge anyone. They make for a great Minnesota music success story you can watch unfold before the headlines. Black Box Found is group of local lad's to seriously keep an eye on and ear out for.

ok for this band to be moving up the ranks of the Midwest music scene with their debut EP. Their strategy for making the big time that could cause for a real stir within the current rock forum. "It doesn’t matter how good you are, without integrity throughout the band concept itself and its true vision.. you have nothing."-said Vatland. Black Box Found screams integrity which demands respect, and will be showing it off very soon. This is one band that’s taking off from its rock'n roll launchpad ready to challenge anyone. They make for a great Minnesota music success story you can watch unfold before the headlines. Black Box Found is group of local lad's to seriously keep an eye on and ear out for.

The Many Things She Does...

she twists me crazy

I am nothing

She's a bi#%h

So hot she can turn you into ashes

She passes and you blow away in the wind

She rescues you for just a short time until you ponder her intentions

You become jealous, angry, fighting yourself for whom she saved

You question her

You fantisize about her

She is you constilation

She is impossible

She has no love for you

Your wasting away

She see's it

Its gone

You lost her

Rescue me.

Up Late Thinking of Love Lost While Coping Through Masturbation...

No romeo, no prnce in shining armor

Rusted rehabbed nobody on the verge of fame.

How big is your wallet?

How empty is your heart?

Her beauty makes you want to die

Look at magazines

Many other women to infect your mind.

No one to woo me

Being saved could never be so over rated. Hollywood set me up to be crushed by a beautiful brunette in heels.

Thanks, you jackals.

Rewind and show clip again.

Cum stains on my sheets.

Brain clogged by you.

Come back to where you never were

I need you to love me.

- Kurt Vatland