The building did not seem big enough to get away from the terrible-to-worse sound.

I rarely leave a concert thinking ill of the majority of bands that played, but “The Alternative Press tour” last Friday at The Rave’s Eagles Ballroom was definitely an exception.

The tour featured opening acts, Forever the Sickest Kids, Sonny, and The Matches, coupled with co-headliners, The Rocket Summer and All Time Low. By the end, I was less than impressed with the bands chosen, save one.

Bombarding the crowd early was an uncomfortably loud, and haphazard mash-up of noises by Forever the Sickest Kids. Though trying to keep an open mind, any and all patience quickly wore thin in the ensuing musical mess.

You know a band is maybe too emo when all the members have longer hair than a majority of the girls in the crowd. Such was the case with the next opener, Sonny. I applauded his attempt at falsetto singing, but the only people who should really go that high are Anthony Green from Circa Survive or Tom Chaplin of Keane.

It was as if Coheed & Cambria had a love child, except with straighter hair. “Painful” was really the only word that came to mind in describing Sonny’s 30 minute set, which ended with him playing a random mix on his laptop and continually pounding his fist in the air.

It quickly became apparent that the third opening band, The Matches, were really the key attraction.

Coordinated in red clothes, save the drummer Matt Whalen dressed in blue, The Matches began with “Salty Eyes,” the first single off their album, “Decomposer.” The song itself sounded flawless, and they made it look effortless.

Their playing seemed so confidant in fact, that even feedback that snuck into the rare live treat, “Little Maggots,” sounded deliberate and great.

The Matches appeared visually unmatched from the rest of the tour lineup. On stage during “Papercut Skin,” they appeared entertainingly over-the-top, especially when guitar tech Ben Young, AKA Triangle Man, came out on stage to deliver his signature move, “rocking the triangle.” By comparison, the other bands seemed to just stand there lifeless and bland.

The Matches even managed to interject a bit of playful humor into their set. Before “Wake the Sun,” the first single off their latest album, “A Band in Hope,” lead guitarist Jon Devoto said, "this one’s a new song.” Singer Shawn Harris joked, “Unless you believe in time travel.”

The song “Sick Little Suicide” sounded amazingly close to the album recording, and turned out to be one of the most engaging performances of the evening.

Also off their latest album came “Yankee in a Chip Shop” and “Their City,” two equally impressive additions to their catalogue. Closing The Matches’ set was “Sunburn Vs. The Rhinovirus.” In my opinion, they’ve hardly sounded better on stage.

However, any positive notes The Matches brought to the tour, quickly disappeared with co-headliners The Rocket Summer and All Time Low. Audible lyrics seemed nowhere to in sight.

As soon as the lights came down and the crowd started screaming for The Rocket Summer, I was immediately lost after, “How’s it going Milwaukee!?” It felt like drowning in a horrendous blur of noise. The building did not seem big enough to get away from the terrible-to-worse sound.

The All Time Low began with a self-prescribed “parental advisory,” which was pretty much the only moment in their 45 minute set with any clarity or enunciation. I’ve heard more music and melody in the click of a retractable pen.

Sporting their unique stage presence and thankful volume restraint, The Matches seemed to be the only band worth listening to the entire night. What was advertised as “alternative” turned out to be really more of the same. Disappointingly, four-fifths of this concert really bit the big one.

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