Summertime is the unofficial season of shows, between Warped Tour, Uproar Festival, Ozzfest, and tons of other smaller tours and festivals. The only difficult task surrounding summer shows is choosing which one to go to. The Scream It Like You Mean It Tour has always carried a strong reputation for taking out trending bands with a knack for igniting crowds, so it seemed only natural to pop in on this summer’s run. I made my way through the streets of downtown Manhattan to Irving Plaza, where the evening began to unfold.
The ground shakes below me and the pit opens up. Bodies collide and limbs connect in the midst of the chaos. The Air I Breathe unleash their set with unrelenting fervor, matched equally by a fresh and enthusiastic crowd. The voices coming from the crowd rival the vibrations that charge from the towers of speakers, like a fortress of sound coagulating in the sweaty air. One thing is certain, metal is alive tonight. The Air I Breathe pour fresh perspective and energy into the overcrowded genre, their impeccable musicianship and live prowess has shot the band far beyond many of the metal bands born on New Jersey stages.
Gears switch as soon as the bass drops and Mod Sun explodes onto the stage; the room that once had heads banging now has shoulders leaning and arms swaying. A security guard leans over and mutters to me, “I would never have expected music like this to come from a guy who looks like that”, which is a valid statement; Mod Sun’s golden locks catch air every time he tosses himself across the stage. Taking a note from Greg Puciato of The Dillinger Escape Plan, Mod Sun climbs atop the speakers, not an unexpected move considering the rest of his relentlessly energetic performance. Most of the scene kids with long hair and plugs appear to be less than excited, and the mosh pit takes a much needed break. Maybe it isn’t the right place for Mod Sun, but regardless, a few chicks “drop it like it’s hot”. Even if only for a few minutes.
The group of Illinois boys donning boat shoes was an unexpected precursor to the blood boiling screams and chugging guitars of The Color Morale. A preacher of imperfection, Garret Rapp grabs the crowd with his wise and grounded words. His relate-ability and honesty is infectious. For the first time tonight I get that surge of adrenaline through my veins, the kind of excitement that stings as it rises to your skin. The air gets caught in my chest as the pounding guitars beat it back down, and as the vibration of the kick drum courses through my bones it takes me back to the earliest of my concert days when the sheer volume alone set off endorphins. I shake as the floor beats up and down, the pit has been resurrected, the emotion manifesting itself in spin kicks and punches. Despite a lack of musical intricacy and genuine originality, emotion alone can carry these guys.
Michigan’s I See Stars were up next, and the crowd was begging to completely lose control. As they storm onto the stage the crowd erupts and the band’s hit “End of the World Party” creates such hysteria that if the world had ended it surely would have been an exhilarating way out. Zach Johnson (keys, screaming vocals) turned it up all the way, for when he stepped out from behind his keys he emerged with undeniable swagger and confidence. It’s electrifying when things get that out of control, even if I did get kicked in the head more that enough times by stray crowd surfers. The ability to command a crowd and maintain interest for an entire set proves that I See Stars is doing something right. The crowd becomes a sea of arms and girls scream as Zach thrusts his hips right back at them. The predictable breakdowns and formulaic placement of electronic samples seems to be exactly what the crowd ordered; each and every breakdown gets the kids more excited than the last. The opening lines of “Wonderland” are met with requited vehemence and the crowd bellows back the signature hook right on time, even if not right on key.
The next band had an unfair advantage at capturing my interest; I’ve previously interviewed Chiodos but never got the chance to see them perform. Brandon Bolmer’s mix of screams and amazingly high vocal work soared, a performance that surpassed many of my expectations. Keyboardist Bradley Bell sports a look that can only be described as rock n’ roll Jesus, but hey, Jesus can play. Selections from “All’s Well That Ends Well” and “Bone Palace Ballet”, though old, were crowd favorites; the symphony of screams from the kids paying the highest compliment to a band who have been around so long. Irving Plaza’s light show full of strobes added another layer to the bands already dynamic set, the rapid flashes sent every single riff even deeper into the atmosphere creating one of those moments that’s far more emotional than musical. The set comes to a close and the room begs for more; and thankfully Chiodos hit hard enough to satiate the thirst of the fans for tonight. Bolmer’s dynamic performance can’t be applauded enough, and it is without question that the veterans’ live show is even better than their studio work. Bells synth work adds just the right amount of that familiar eerie feeling from Chiodos’ albums, a performance well worth it’s price.
The party ensuing on the stage is none other than Breathe Carolina, an energy unrivaled the entire evening. Not one body remains still, and I find it harder and harder to write as the floor, the walls and the entire building shakes. Breathe’s new release “Hell Is What You Make It” is full of dubsteb and rave inspired tracks that keep the frenzy alive, they offer more than just music, they offer a show. The stage is adorned with strobes, light towers, a DJ booth and even more speakers, if that even seemed possible. Even though I’ve almost started seizing at least half a dozen times, it’s that kind of unbridled fun that makes you just want to let your hair down and shake your ass. I glance into the crowd every so often to gauge their reaction, and each time I look out peoples’ lips are moving and brows are sweating, it’s like a rave without the LSD and body paint. Breathe Carolina’s addictive atmosphere is what has made this band such a success. They’re never afraid to just put on a good, honest and rowdy show. These boys don’t waste a second of their time on stage, supplied with an arsenal of water guns just incase you weren’t having enough fun. The fans beg for Breathe to come back out for one more song, a request too great to deny; but before they concluded David and Evan gave the crowd one last surprise: the beloved Kevin. The duos adorable french bulldog puppy joins the band on stage, looking terrified in his newfound stardom. Little Kevin is given a cheer, one that many young musicians hope to receive, and he, well, he gets it just for being cute. From start to finish Breathe Carolina have taken us on a journey, concluding a youthful and exciting evening. RR
Sonia Karas