I went to this show not looking to be entertained, but purely out of concern. After everything I witnessed during the 13th Annual Oscar Special, it was hard to know what kind of shape On Cinema would be in. For Greggheads like myself, there was plenty of reason for concern. When last we saw On Cinema, New Amato had once again pulled the whole thing off course, away from the movies and away from the man still trying to protect what On Cinema is supposed to be. So when I walked into a sold out Neptune Theater for On Cinema Live, I was looking for one thing above all else: proof that Gregg Turkington was still holding the line.

Before anyone even took the stage, the tone of the night felt encouraging. A lone popcorn machine sat onstage as a reminder of what still matters in this world: the movies, the rituals around them, and the people who love them. The smell of popcorn hung in the air, a promising sign that the night might still shape up to be a five bagger. More importantly, VFA merch was everywhere. Inside the aptly named Neptune Theater, it felt like a strong Gregghead turnout and, with it, our best chance yet to return the focus to the movies.

As expected, New spent much of the night lost in his usual antics, once again pulling focus away from what the audience was actually there for. Dekkar and Dootle Dots were both on full display, but neither offered anything close to the wonder that can only come from the silver screen. The real high point came when Gregg finally treated the Seattle audience to a personal screening of a real film shot right here in our own backyard! For a moment, it felt like the night was becoming what it should have been all along.

Of course, that moment did not last. In a development that felt painfully on brand for New, the screening was cut short once it became clear the venue had apparently been double booked and the night needed to end before a massive fine kicked in. It was a frustrating and all too familiar turn, denying the audience the full film experience Gregg had fought so valiantly to provide. Still, Gregg stood strong and kept pushing until he was finally able to get New to agree to another season of On Cinema.

That is what I left holding onto. Sure, it was a real loss not getting to watch the full film. But if the tradeoff was more reviews from Gregg in the future, then at least the night ended with something worth believing in. In the end, that was just enough to dull the bite of disappointment.

Photos and review by Andy Perkovich for ilikeloudmusic.com, an Auburn-based music photography and concert review site covering live music across the Pacific Northwest.