The Full Effect take the stage for a packed house

Reggie and the Full Effect, MC Chris, Warship and LeATHERMOUTH kicked off the Last Stop: Crappy Town Farewell Tour at The Social Aug. 20.

The solo project of James Dewees, formerly of The Get Up Kids, streamed from writing songs that didn't seem to fit The Get Up Kids motif, which resonate a mocking glorification of the emo pop-rock genre he helped create.

"James kind of invented all that stuff 10 years before it got popular," Iero said. "The kids actually know what's up. I've been listening to Reggie since I was way young, they've been one of my favorite bands [since he showed at CBGB back in 1997] since his first tour."

Dewees tours extensively as a keyboardist with such bands as New Found Glory and My Chemical Romance, where he met rhythm guitarist Frank Iero, bandmate of Reggie and lead singer of LeATHERMOUTH. Typically for a Reggie tour, the set list consists of Dewee's friends creating a musical chairs rotation as everyone plays in the other's band.

LeATHERMOUTH dressed in all white except for the letters spelling "mouth" written haphazardly in permanent marker on the left shoulder of the band members, including Dewees on drums.

"This song is about you guys, it's for you guys," Iero said. "It's about cutting off your ears and setting yourself on fire, its called I'm going to kill the president of the United States of America."

Iero kneeled close to the edge of the stage, face buried in the pit of fans as he sang the lyrics to an album yet to be release yet the crowd sang back in unison.

"It's really weird," Iero said. "We don't even have a record out or anything. They really researched and found out about it. I didn't really expect anyone to know the words, which helped me out a lot because I didn't have any breath yet."

Iero frequently stopped singing to marvel at the crowd's ability to fill in. The perverse dedication of some was apparent when Iero spit into the air and a member of the crowd caught some on their palm and licked it clean.

Dewees explained that the farewell tour was like a KISS farewell tour where the band says they're never coming back, but in reality they will, with more merchandise and re-mastered CDs of the same songs.

"I want everyone to be excited about this," Christopher "MC Chris" Ward said. "Like we're all in Jurassic Park and the T-Rex is about to escape."

Ward is best know for his high pitch "nerdcore" hip-hop, as a writer for Cartoon Network shows such as Sealab 2021, The Brak Show and Space Ghost Coast to Coast, as well as his voice work for Aqua Teen Hunger Force as MC Sir Loin and MC Pee Pants. His music encompasses Batman, Star Wars, falling in love with a girl working at Dairy Queen and his love of Robitussin.

"This is a dream come true for me," Ward said. "I've been a fan of James for years and I'm honored to be here. When I found out he was a fan of me, I was ecstatic. Are you guys excited for Reggie and the Full Effect? I'm excited. I'm such a big fan, but I'm trying not to act like it, probably the biggest here. I love my life … I could get hit by a bus after I get off stage, I don't care. I'm having a great time."

Dewees appeared on stage dressed in Hannah Montana merchandise and a mullet wig, flaunting his obsessive pondering over the success of Miley Cyrus, a relatively subdued version of his popular culture lampooning expertise which has included fishnets, fake blood, lingerie and KISS regalia.

A cluster of headband-and-fake-mustache-clad fans knew all the words to "Happy V Day," "Get Well Soon" and "Gloves." The audience multiplied like molecules, fidgeting and rubbing shoulder to shoulder for a better handheld camera shot, every time a glance was spared from the stage another one appeared scream the lyrics hoarse in your ear; mashed peanuts into butter style.

"I really love Reggie and the Full Effect and I'm kind of bummed that it's their last tour. They're just really fun," said fan Rebecca Smith, not getting the joke. "They're good to see. It's a good time. It's pretty bizarre. They do a Slayer cover. He comes out in a devil Halloween mask and there's a lot of fake blood and all that good stuff. He does do thongs. One time I saw him come out on a big wheel in shiny disco pretty breeches and waistcoats. Yeah, I don't know, but it was there all the same."

To learn more about Reggie and the Full Effect, LeATHERMOUTH or MC Chris go to http://www.myspace.com/reggieandthefulleffect, http://www.leathermouth.com or http://www.mcchris.com.