Concert Review: THE END IS HERE TOUR with Dangerkids, Dead Girls Academy, Motionless In White, ISSUES, Falling In Reverse
Kicking
off their tour, The End Is Here, on January 13th in Tempe,
Arizona at the rock venue near Arizona State University, Falling In
Reverse took the headliner and brought along co- headliner's
Motionless In White, ISSUES and opening bands Dangerkids and Dead
Girls Academy. All of them: the perfect mash of all types of rock
that complemented each other and brought a crowd-swelling room more
than once to the buzzed up frenzy of rock n roll!
Scads
of Hardcore, Metal, Goth, Punk, Rock n Roll 'fiends' lined themselves
up outside the venue doors, down the parking lot, over the bridge,
and across the road over the Tempe Salt River waters. Many adorned
themselves to show who their favorite band was by wearing dark heavy
makeup, torn jeans, multicolored hair, spiked boots, short skirts,
leather, piercings, altered ears, and of course, their band's
t-shirts from previous shows. It was great seeing the mixtures of
fans and listening to them chatter with anticipated excitement that
they were to be the first on the tour list to see it all kickoff and
did it ever! It was a hell-ah good show!
It
wasn't long after the venue's doors opened and everyone shuffled
quickly through security that the ground floor before the stage was
wall to wall fans. Some of the crowd made their way up to the
balcony, which is 21 and over only, to settle in. Both top and bottom
were tight with the opening night tour of anxious fans. They chanted
for Motionless In White, ISSUES, Falling In Reverse- these fans were
ready to welcome the night of music.
As
their set came to a close, and the audience in unison showed
appreciation for DGA, the stage hands came on and quickly the
Dangerkids began their set. One of the most notable things about
Dangerkids is once you hear them, you're addicted. They deliver a
tight mix of tight driving hardcore/clean and unclean vocals. Opening
their set with their live debut,
“Things Could Be Different” was the helium high that tore a hole in the rock ozone. The crowd went beyond insane with fists pumping, metal signs raging and crowd surfing. The too short set of only six tunes left every single person hungry for more. Bringing in another layer of rapping mixed in their signature style of identification, “Paper Lines” is an anthem that beats true.
Hitting
it hard Dangerkids performed the tune, “Kill Everything” from
their new album Blacklist out January 27th on Paid Vacation Records.
With the skills seemingly in their mix these band members, Andy Bane,
Tyler Smyth, Jake Bonham, and Katie Cole are another perfect link in
this tours chain.
 |
Maybe, since this mix is so freaking right... The End Is Here Tour... isn't too far off. |
With
another quick stage change, and about a twenty minute passing period,
the crowd was now packed so tightly against the pit guard that
security was passing out waters over the railing to the crushed-heat
exhausted fans. Even as the soft purple colored lights flowed across
the stage, the fans continued to push forward as the members of
Motionless In White entered the domicile. With a thunderous roar from
the MIW fans rushing and forceful mounting gridlock of rock n roll
bodies, it almost seemed that it would overpower the railing.
There
the stage was on full display in shadows and lit jack o lanterns with candles flickering, but a silenced death whisper: Chris
Motionless' presence made its entrance onto the stage and immediately
all seemed to calm down. It was as if a dose of a magic concoction
had been administered over the clamoring fans and everyone closely
bound together stopped the shoving and began to sing along as MIW
opened their set with their speed metal and screaming vocals. “570”
their first single released off their soon to be coming album,
Graveyard Shift. 2014 was the last released album,
Reincarnate, which debuted at #1 on Billboard's Top Rock
Albums chart.
Having
won over fans from all genre crossovers, what Motionless In White
offers is an aggressive, and expressive creativity form of energy.
This imagery is infectious and undeniable for this band out of
Scranton, Pennsylvania who took the realm of metal in 2005 and hasn't
let up since. Now signed with Roadrunner Records, bandmates Chris
Motionless [All Vocals]; Ricky Horror [Guitar]; standing in on this
tour Marie-Christine – Keyboards (Josh Balz had left the band
several days before the tour began after 10 years with the band);
session and touring mate since 2014 Vinny Mauro [drums]; Ryan
Sitkowski [Guitar]; and Devin "Ghost" Sola [Bass] MIW is
set.
Kylie
Devyn joined MIW and became a part of the stage performance. Dressed
in a mocking- horror clown outfit, with fishnet stockings, a short
skirt and a taunting attitude Kylie began throwing singular candy
pieces out of jack-o-lantern and into the crowd. As the song,
“Everybody Sells Cocaine” began, she showered the elated crowd of
reaching fingers and flailing arms in miniature candy bars. All
throughout the show, Kylie came out in a variety of get-ups and even
brought out the heavy duty water gun and unleashed her water streams
over the beckoning crowds.
It
was at the climactic moment of the show when MIW performed their cover
of System of a Down's “Chop Suey.” From the rafters to the stage
lights, to the sway of the stage curtains, to the pounding upon the
venue floors, this song was the night's highlight. The waves of body
surfers were almost flying over faster than the security people could
manage. The pulsating emotion breathed in exultation as this was
Chris Motionless' finest vocal moment, and the band's resounding
triumph that Ricky, Ryan, Devin, Marie-Christine, and Vinny could
hold was the inner sanctum of belief. Debuting their song, “Eternally
Yours,” MIW went right into their final song, “Reincarnate” and
the crowd was completely satisfied.
Rapidly
following MIW, the stage was set and presented for ISSUES to take
their “Intercoastal Heavy Pop” sound to the masses. ISSUES is
always such a fun band to listen to and watch perform. Having been
along on the 2016 Warped Tour, and integrating our beloved Pokemon,
the band had formed in 2012 out of Atlanta and the Los Angeles area.
Heck, everyone loves ISSUES music, what is there not to love? They
are fun, energetic, 'hooligan-ish,' and the skater community is
completely hooked. These guys are lit.
ISSUES
wasted no time taking the wheel and driving their sound as they
opened with the powerful hard heavy rock tune of “Blue Wall.”
Their mix of clean vocals, Tyler Carter (2015 AP Award Best Vocalist
Nominee) and unclean vocals, Michael Bohn, is the quintessential bit
of nu metal, heavy-core sound. “COMA” continued to showcase the
masterful guitar work of Adrian "AJ" Rebollo and the soft
vocal quality Carter possesses. With only two studio albums to pull
from, ISSUES (2014) and Headspace (2016), and a few
EP's, ISSUES has squared a space for themselves. The drum work by
Josh Manuel crushes it on their next track performed, “Princeton
Ave.” ISSUES live debut of their latest album, Headspace, connected
the bridge as bassist Skyler Acord (2016 AP Award Best Bassist Won)
took their tune, “Home Soon.”
There
is an undeniable stamp of approval as ISSUES continues their
affiliations with Monster Energy, Hot Topic, Journeys Shoes, Live
Nation, and others. They are identifiable to today's youth and they
meet the demands of a wide range of music listeners. Their music
isn't easily placed in a box to be called this or that. It can be
said ISSUES is Heavy Pop, Nu Metal, Punk, and Rock. That is why they
have such a diverse and extensive following.
Turning
it up to the boy gets the girl, loses girl, motocross racing tune of
driving force, “The Realest.” In 2013, ISSUES released their
stand-alone single with a video, “Hooligans” and it was this song
that set everything in motion for ISSUES. The perfect completion to
their set. Having been on Warped more than once, and sharing the
stage with some of the biggest names along the way - Bring Me The
Horizon, Of Mice & Men and others - ISSUES has made and continues
to make their mark clear on the history of music timeline.
The
'end' was now near, as the night opening for the tour “The End Is
Here” gave way to its final band that night. The lights went down
and the momentous intensity the crowd had been waiting for hit the
stage, Falling In Reverse, was in the house. A blonde Ronnie Radke
dressed like the days of Kurt Cobain rocked the stage and the
presence of somewhat in musical style took on more of a Chris Fronz
likeness.
The
set opens with the anthemic track, “Sink or Swim.”
It
is a well-known fact that Radke has had his issues and it would seem
as any engaging artist with an eclectic mess can generate, and does,
a most intuitive response. The definition of a chemical reaction is
Radke. Who cares whether you love, hate, admire, or are repulsed
because Falling In Reverse frontman Ronnie Radke is one of those
rough around the edges, unpredictable at times, prick, but brilliant
minded, and rock n roll operative like none other. Many see him as
both equal villain and hero, it depends on who has either had their
feelings hurt over his reactions/actions or who has stood there
gobsmacked realizing he has laid it all on the line. Take him or
leave him. Radke is. Falling In Reverse continues to break every
rule. That is what makes them who they are and it makes for good
music.
Right
into the next song, “God, If You Are Above,” it seems to have
been written straight from the Radke speed dial; “The spirit's
stuck between two roads and waiting there on me, The first path is
the way to go, the life I want to lead, The second road's my crazy
past, The darkest points I've tried to mask...” From the album,
Fashionably Late, Radke's energy sprang forward like a tight
wound clock. Bouncing all over the stage. First, left-then-right, his
legs could have been pogo sticks and there wasn't any stopping Radke
from there. Tightening the cord and plunging the liquid screamo
hardcore rock FIR brought “Chemical Prisoner” to a rapaciously
roaring crowd of believers. Total elation and voices rang out along
with Radke's as “Game Over” took its turn. Such a fun song that
takes you right back to those early days of pop punk rock fun.
Falling
In Reverse debuted three new tunes from their forthcoming album,
Coming Home, on this tour with the titled single, “Coming
Home.” A rich melodic song that cuts in deep to the emotional side
and beauty. Falling In Reverse with this new album is taking some by
surprise as it's a different direction for the band. It has a mature
sound, that shows the vocal development clearly of Radke and the
strength that is solidly bound in each band member: Derek Jones –
[rhythm guitar, vocals]; [Ryan Seaman – drums, percussion,
vocals]; Zakk Sandler – [bass, vocals ]; Christian Thompson –
[lead guitar, backing vocals].
Next,
from the new album, “Loser” began and the crowd's reaction was
overwhelming. There was a thread of trust and emotion that flowed
between the lyrics leaving Radke's lips and the receptive ears of
those in the audience. It was moving and unworldly charged. The last
debut came with the track, “Departure” which lends itself more to
the side known to FIR fans, yet it speaks ostentatiously to the order
of FIR. Still one of the most humoristic tunes thrown into this set
had to be the 80's punk soundtrack, “The Drug In Me Is You.” Just
a crack whoring great tune. Overall, and through it all, maybe it
Falling In Reverse is back to not only sounding like they are having
fun but actually living like they are.
The
End Is Here Tour is continuing on through mid-February, and then the
bands take a shift and head on into other tour dates. Falling In
Reverse will be out on the road at least through July and making it
over to the Chicago Open Air Festival. ISSUES will be connecting with
A Day To Remember, Sleeping with Sirens, Pierce The Veil as they are
out and about through June. You will be able to find Motionless In
White all over the place in the states through May, then they head
over to Europe and have several dates slated. Dangerkids will be
chilling through February on this tour, and then they certainly must
have other plans in the making along with Dead Girls Academy because
there is no way any force of nature is going to stop those two bands.
