Anthony Raneri (of Bayside) Solo US Tour – REVIEW

Anthony Raneri of Bayside recently came though Chicago on his solo headline tour with Steve Soboslai of Punchline. You can check out our review of the tour after the break.

Acoustic shows always offer something more intimate that a regular concert. The Anthony Rineri and Steve Soboslai of Punchline concert was no exception. Being a fan of Punchline for 15 years and never seeing an acoustic Punchline set, this night was a do not miss. Steve started off the night at around 8:00 P.M. In my opinion, Steve is one of the most gifted songwriters that has yet to be heard. His lyrics are one in a million and very unique. He started off the show with a brand new song about a girl he wasted  his time on. The lyrics were very honest and brutal, just like a Punchline song. Steve always had a gift to make the crowd laugh and he is extremely charismatic, even after he sings a pissed off song. The crowd really loved listening to Steve, especially when he played classic songs from Punchline’s breakthrough album, “Action.” I could hear people singing along, especially during, “Battlescars,” making Steve smile and really enjoy the 40 minutes he was on stage for. Seeing Steve perform for the first time in a couple years, I really got to enjoy an intimate concert

Anthony hit the stage and in a room of 250 people, it sounded like a crowd of 1,000 going nuts for him. The respect and admiration his fans have for him is without a doubt one of the most amazing things you could imagine. Anthony started the show singing praises about Chicago bands that have shaped his band and his writing style. Anthony mixed his set with classic Bayside hits, songs that have been requested for years that have never been played, and covers from some of his favorite bands. For most of the night, it was a 250 person sing-a-long to Bayside. It was a fans dream inside of Schuba’s Tavern that night. Anthony was spot on vocally and the crowd enjoyed every little bit of the show. The crowd erupted after Anthony played “Don’t Call Me Peanut.” The crowd cheered for at least three minutes and Anthony grinned so wide I could see it from the back of the room. His smile showed the admiration he has for Chicago and he left his heart out on that stage for all the concertgoers to listen to and enjoy.

Information about the review…
Tour: Anthony Raneri (of Bayside) Solo US Tour
Artists: Anthony Raneri (of Bayside) and Steve Soboslai (of Punchline)
Reviewer: George Medic
Date: April 22, 2012
Venue: Schubas Tavern in Chicago, IL