So I want to start by apologizing to the opening acts that I did not get a chance to see. I failed on a 'golden rule in music' in which you are to show up and support the opening bands even if it isn't your style of music. So to BCI, King Parrot, and Origin, I apologize for my absence and support. I managed to squeeze in as Origin was tearing down their gear off the stage.
I was hoping for a better turn out for the show but I also realize it was a later evening on a Wednesday night. And even though we are supposed to rock n roll all night and party everyday, most people who go to the shows have day jobs that pay for these tickets. So it's understandable that a Wednesday night show would not yield the same numbers as a Friday/Saturday night gig. Nonetheless, the crowd made the place feel very full but also space to breathe and not smell everyone walking by (haha).
So I met up with some friends, grabbed a brew, set up my gear and picked out a nice little corner by the bar on the floor where I could stash my lenses and be able to move around. And with good reason as Carnifex took the stage and set off quite the mosh pit.
Not being my typical style, I could still appreciate some guttural vocals and some sexy breakdowns. Friends that I attended the show with were sporting their merch and joining in with the masses on a circle pit. Good showing overall. A little bit of a time delay (and what seemed to be an issue with the stage sound), Unearth were ready to unleash some aggression on the young spectators below. To get this out of the way, I have never seen a bad Unearth show before.
After touring for many years and keeping the core sound relatively the same throughout their albums, I find they have great chemistry and rarely do I find them lacking anything. So I say this with all tact and diligence...it was a wall of sound! I don't think I'd be doing my job if I didn't call it like I see it. Something was wonky about the "wall of sound". Not looking to place blame on anyone (nor should I since it wasn't my show) but I had a hard time hearing the individual instruments. I also walked around the venue a bit to see if it was my location but sadly it wasn't/. So once small constructive criticism over 6-7 shows really isn't that bad.
The we have moved onto the finale of the evening. Darkest Hour takes the stage after some delays from previous bands and sound check completed. Ripping through their opening track "Wasteland" was hard for me to keep the camera steady. I mean, how could you when they have Travis Orbin pounding the shit out of those kick drums in the background?!
But I had to remember that Sumerian gave me the opportunity and had to produce. So steady as best we (aka myself) could and shoot! The Opera House can be a hit and miss with the house lights, and for some reason a shitload of fog/smoke on the stage as if it's ambiance/mystic. Makes for a great time, especially when members like John Henry can't sit still for 0.25 seconds before jumping around again.
But even though some fans from the show had dissipated, the guys started and finished off strong. They jumped from album to album, hoping to cover some older material but also giving fans a taste of their new self-titled album (and first one on Sumerian Records).
Overall, I thought it was a great show with some great bands. Ticket prices were running around $20-$25, so for six bands on the bill that's not a bad deal. Hell, even if you only showed up for the co-headliners, that's a mere $10-$12.50 for an hour's worth of music. Quite a deal if you ask me. So in conclusion, the show was a success. Be sure to check out more of these guys as they will surely return to the great white north! Check out the rest of the photos over at AFGM's Facebook page!
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