SECOND COMING LIVE
December 12, 1998 (performance date)
The Aquarian
By Sherry Thomas, Aquarian Critic

OLD BRIDGE, NJ,- Birch Hill Enter. Complex -if there was a band that could renew my love for hard-hitting rock music, it would be Capital recording artists Second Coming! They are the best thing to come out of Seattle’s heavy music scene since Alice in Chains and Soundgarden. Second Coming came to Birch Hill on Dec. 12th and ripped the roof off the ceiling. If you were there after Ozone Monday played, you know what I’m talking about. If you left, then I feel sorry for you.

The mix was a bit loud all night, but once my ears adjusted, I was treated to cuts from their self-titled debut album. Included in the set was the single “Soft,” the song that turned me on to Second Coming. Thanks to the people who put together that compilation CD that I bought at The Main Street Jukebox (shout out to Satan) several weeks ago.

The quartet performed the seven minute epic “confessional,” “ vintage Eyes,” the next single set to hit the airwaves, and the very intense “Travisty.” The band also got a dose of entertainment themselves, provided by an overactive female fan who obviously hit the bottle a little too hard that evening. That annoyance aside, Second Coming just validated the fact that hard rock is alive and well. Look for them when they tour again soon. You don’t want to miss the vocal abilities of Travis Bracht, the crunchin’ guitars provided by Dudley Taft, or the powerful rhythm section of Yanni “Johnny” Bacolas (bass), and James Bergstrom on drums, who reminds me of my favorite musical Muppet, Animal. Keep this up, fellas, and you’ll be huge!

Not to be overlooked were the openers Pete, Sect. 8, and Ozone Monday. It’s good to know that Jersey rock is still kicking. Although Sect. 8 and Ozone Monday impressed me Pete were the group that caught my attention. The band from the beautiful Newark, NJ sounded a bit like Creed at first, which is not a bad thing by the way. As they went on, Pete threw in some samples and a little bit of industrial flavors as well. I would love to hear more from this talented new band.