Melt-Banana
Words: Lily Richeson
Photos: Jana Miller

Appeared:
June 3, 2007
Common Grounds, Gainesville

Melting My Expectations...

The hype around a band can be its downfall in many ways. While I was mingling around Common Grounds in Gainesville, I was overwhelmed with comments on Japanese speed-rockers Melt-Banana. “You're going to be blown away!” or “I've seen them five or six times and they are amazing!” made me more than fired up for the “epic” performance I was about to experience. Perhaps these comments also set my expectations to a limit that couldn't be reached. Melt-Banana started out quick and speedy as expected; I was definitely into it. Soon after, maybe five or six songs though, I became bored. They were cute and above mediocre, but it was nothing mind-blowing. I also sensed a lack of the real energy that gets me excited about a bands’ live performance. Maybe Melt-Banana got too used to playing huge arenas with Tool over the past few weeks. They were impersonal and did not connect with each other as a band or the audience as much as I hoped they would.  Don't just take my word for it though. Their live show reputation is one that is rumored across the nation to be stellar. Just don't set the bar too high, it can be a total buzz kill.