THE RETRIEVER December 6, 2004 17 Features Baltimore Ottobar gets emotional with big name show

MIKE TIUFEKCHIEV the same camp as Bright Eyes’ Conor Oberst, Retriever Staff Writer wowed the crowd with his brutally honest, intro- spective, if not sometimes unusual lyrics. On Friday, November 26, three of the Following their finale, “Alive with the Glory of biggest names in the subgenre invariably referred Love”, a high octane World War II era love song, to as “emo” gathered at Baltimore’s Ottobar to I asked Bemis if we could expect a headlining play in front of a sold out crowd. The mood was tour any time soon. “Maybe,” he said. “Spread already intense before Say Anything, Hot Rod the word”. Circuit and Straylight Run even hit the stage. The Next up was Hot Rod Circuit. Once an “up streets outside the pint-sized venue were filled and coming” band on the scene, Hot Rod Circuit with music fans, some coming from as far away are now grizzled old vets, fresh off the release of as New York and Pennsylvania to see one of the their fifth full length effort, Reality’s Coming final dates on this incredibly popular fall tour. Through, available on Vagrant Records. Often The line to get in was stretched around the block compared to the legendary Get Up Kids, as non-ticket holders made their final pleas for Alabama’s Hot Rod Circuit attempted to keep the entrance to the doorman. energetic crowd going with their powerful, emo- By the time Say Anything, the four-piece tional sound. Despite seeming to drag a little bit melodic rock band from Southern California, at times, the band brilliantly poured energy right took the stage, the crowd was ready to rock. back into the crowd with an artistically perfect Front man Max Bemis did not disappoint, bel- cover of the Tom Petty classic “I Won’t Back lowing out six of the bands trademark tunes off Down”. This was followed by two of the band’s their critically acclaimed debut Say Anything is a biggest hits: “Now or Never” and “Irish Car Real Boy, available on Doghouse Records. The Bomb”. only disappointing aspect of the band’s set was its Despite tremendous enthusiasm for the first brevity, limited by time constraints to half an two acts, it seemed most of the crowd’s hearts Mike Tiufekchiev [Retriever Staff] hour. Bemis, who has been placed by critics in Cheer up, emo kids: Straylight Run’s John Nolan (left) and Shaun Cooper (right) captivate the crowd at see OTTOBAR, page 20 Baltimore’s Ottobar. The Retriever’s roommate holiday shopping guide

RYAN DORRILL exam the next day? Although this might be a bit versations. Retriever Staff Writer of an inconvenience to you, there’s always the shower, right? The Top Five Worst Holiday Gifts for In case you haven’t noticed, the holidays are Your Roommate upon us. Despite UMBC’s complete lack of fan- 4. America the Book from the Daily show. Ok, so fare with regards to Christmas, Hanukah, this one is a bit pricier than the rest of the choic- 5. Season tickets to the UMBC football games. Kwanzaa, and every other holiday imaginable, it es. That’s why it’s number four. Besides, even The UMBC football shirt is cool, because hey, is impossible to ignore that in a sparse number of though you’re giving it to your roommate, you’ll technically we are undefeated. This gift idea, weeks we’ll be shipped back home to exchange probably be reading it half of the time anyway. however, is not. gifts and awkward stories about college with our Plus, it’s a hilarious spoof of American culture families. Many students may even be out at the dressed like a textbook AND it’s available at the 4. A Pet UMBC squirrel. I know, this sounds mall after their last exam on Dec. 22, racking UMBC bookstore. If you play your cards right, mighty tempting, and it’s free, but those squirrels their minds to pick out a gift for mom and dad. you might get your parents to pay for this as one are vicious. One of them nearly took my friend This is all fine and good, but you’re proba- of your textbooks for next semester. Emily’s hand off while she was feeding it some bly leaving a major member of your extended cashews. Besides, I don’t think the community family off of your Christmas shopping list: your 3. A semester-long supply of Ramen. Your room- directors would appreciate wild animals building roommate. After putting up with you for the past mate has to eat, so they will love this gift. Plus, it’s nests in the residence hall ventilation ducts. four months, don’t you think they deserve a little probably the cheapest option on the list. At eight more than the month old milk you left in their cents apiece, you can buy 250 packs of salty 3. The ‘Oscar Berninger’ action figure with real fridge? goodness for only twenty bucks. Trust us, these phone mail action. Again, it sounds tempting, With that and the average college student’s holiday consultants are great at this math stuff. but your roommate sees enough of him in the budget in mind, the Retriever’s staff of profession- dining hall already. al holiday consultants has compiled a list of the 2. Eggnog. Nothing brings out the holiday spirit best and worst roommate holiday gifts. like a few glasses of this traditional holiday bever- 2. Syphilis. Who wants syphilis anyway? age. They’ll be thanking you until they wake up worst possible gifts for your roommate. Cheap The Top Five Best Holiday the next morning. 1. UMBC Paraphernalia. Lets face it, nothing sarcasm and religious ambiguity aside, the holi- Roommate Gifts says “I didn’t feel like quitting DDR to buy you a days are here and it can’t hurt to spread a little 1. A fancy QuietKey Keyboard. This is really a real gift” more than a UMBC coffee mug extra cheer by buying your roommate a going 5. A “get out of sexile for free” card. Be honest. gift for yourself in disguise. UMBC is a tech warmer. If they really wanted one, they probably away gift. And if you don’t like your roommate, How many times have you kicked your room- school, so most roommates will be glad to get an would have bought it with their book money by you can make it a ‘moving out for good’ gift. mate out to enjoy some private time with your extra piece of computer hardware. The bonus is now. Besides, that retriever logo looks like they significant other this semester? Twenty? Thirty? that now you won’t be contemplating murder all paid a child ten cents to draw it. Ryan Dorrill is a staff writer for the Retriever. And how many of those times did they have an night because of their 3 A.M. instant message con- So that’s it folks, the definitive best and You may reach him at [email protected].

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