Get your geek on

“Voldemort just doesn’t understand the power of friendship, the power of love and the power of rock ‘n’ roll,” Paul DeGeorge said Sunday night to the crowd of over 60 attendees during the Unlimited Enthusiasm Expo ’08 tour stop at Rhino’s. And that’s just what united us all there.

The entire floor was covered with multi-colored balloons, beach balls and inflatable objects such as cell phones, a lobster, rocket ships and a monkey.

The whole show was obviously geared toward kids, hence the venue – Rhino’s All-Ages Club – but that didn’t mean adults couldn’t let loose and enjoy it. The Harry Potter Alliance even had a table set up where attendees could register to vote if they would be 18 by November: “Wrock the Vote. No vote is a vote for Voldemort,” the table read.

The three bands on tour – accompanied this time by local band Good Luck – kicked off the show with every member on stage singing the “camp song” followed by Paul and Joe DeGeorge of Harry and the Potters dressed up and rapping as Dumbledore and Aberforth. Camp was in session.

The first band to perform – Uncle Monsterface – was the most awkward for me and, it seemed, most of the adults there. They were the only band that I couldn’t completely enjoy because their music was strictly alluring to those who hadn’t gone through puberty.

Using sock puppets, a guy dressed up as a giant monster (conveniently named “Uncle Monsterface”) and a projector screen, the lead singer Marty Allen, who wore Mickey Mouse ears on his head and had his shoulder-length curly hair tied into two ponytails, ran around the stage singing about video games, “Dungeons & Dragons” and whatever else.

I noticed all the adults at least 10 or more feet away from the crowd of children who were clearly into it. I really felt sorry for guitarist Dan Brennan, because he actually was really good; what was he doing in this creepy band?

Good Luck, whom Allen repeatedly forgot the name of, took the stage next. Finally, tolerable music! Dodging flying balloons throughout their set, the three-piece band was entertaining, without being excessive, like Uncle Monsterface. Their punk-pop sound was clean for the underage crowd, yet appealing to those of us that were actually without baby teeth.

Next, the newest member of the tour’s lineup, Math the Band took the stage; and were accepted just like Good Luck – both adults and children could enjoy their hyperactive, techno sound. The keyboardist, drummer and guitarist/vocalist had lots of high energy that matched Uncle Monsterface’s.

At one point, the drummer’s cymbal feel off (he was set up on the front, left side of the stage); and although I though he would falter, he flawlessly used it to his advantage; it added to his energy as he banged the floor-ridden cymbal with his drum stick. Soon, Joe DeGeorge from Harry and the Potters held up the cymbal for him.

That’s another thing that was interesting about the show – all the bands participated in each act and/or danced in the crowd; it really seemed like a big musical family rather than a tour with three separate bands.

Lastly, and mostly anticipated, were Harry and the Potters. More adults poured in for this final performance.

During their first song, guitarist Paul DeGeorge broke a string on his guitar – or Voldemort used the “stop the rock curse,” according to his brother Joe DeGeorge, keyboardist and saxophone player.

The band’s intensity was high as they ran around and sang songs about Ginny Weasley, Ron Weasley, Sirius Black, Hagrid, S.P.E.W. and more. Paul DeGeorge even summoned (Accio) a new guitar that looked like a broom.

But each band prompted the crowd to register to vote during their sets, and Paul DeGeorge had a “Stop Global Warming” wrist band on; although the night was all about fun and music, the political undertone couldn’t be ignored.

The night ended with all the bands swarming on stage to sing the tour’s “camp song” once more and Joe DeGeorge playing “Auld Lang Syne” on “the saxophone of Godric Gryffindor.”

Camp was over.