Things change with time. I get that.
There are bands I used to obsess over growing up that I haven’t kept track of. There are also some that I still follow religiously. Regardless of if I’ve been able to catch up or am still only listening to their CD that came out in 2006, I will go see them if they play a concert up here and I’m free that night. It’s that whole “search for nostalgia” thing that I’m always harping on.
Sometimes it works in my favor and the bands have stayed the same or improved. Majority of the time, I leave these concerts with a heavy heart because that band I once loved with all my heart, is no longer the same. As disappointing as it is to see a band change so much (perfect example is that Bring Me The Horizon show I went to a couple weeks ago), I get it. Nothing can stay the same and the trends come and go.
Bands have to be ever-changing in order to fit said trends and stay relevant. Being a booking agent, I get that. I totally do, and it’s no hard feelings. You keep on listening to the band’s “good” albums and just pretend like the rest didn’t happen.
That whole naivety works until you see the band on stage. That’s when it hits you that they are nothing like they used to be. Hell, half the time I don’t even recognize some of the bands that held my heart captive at age 15 when I see them again now that I’m in my mid-20’s. That’s how I assumed last night would go. I wasn’t going to recognize anything. It was going to be terrible. It was going to be nothing like that band that I would apply my eight pounds of eyeliner to in my angsty teenage years. Then Alesana took the stage…
The last time I even thought about Alesana was probably back in high school. Their music takes angsty to a whole other level. Dennis Lee is the main vocalist… if you can even call them vocals. It’s not singing, it’s not even close. It’s straight up yelling… growling… good god there are some weird noises that come out of Dennis’ mouth. The piercing vocals hit you like a bus. To the untrained ear, it sounds like devil’s music. It sounds like the stuff that your parents warn you about. To me, it’s literally music to my ears. I love it.
Bands like Alesana were there for me when I was at the lowest of lows. I had a hard way of expressing my feelings about anything to anyone. Alesana and other bands of the whole “emo/screamo” genre really gave me an outlet for my feelings. They screamed their lungs out so I didn’t have to. I know it’s cliche or whatever but they were my voice.
I wasn’t expecting to feel anything last night. I mean, come on, it had been 10 years (at least) since I had even listened to Alesana. There was no way they were going to give me that same feeling they used. But then it happened. They started playing and all of those feelings came crashing into me.
With so many of those bands that I grew up with changing with the scene, last night was refreshing. Alesana hasn’t changed. They’ve stayed true to the style, the look, and the sound of my emo/screamo years. Although I can’t relate to it as much as I used to, it’s still relevant. Dennis still screams so I don’t have to… oh and they are all still extremely attractive and rocking that emo boy look that I used to love. (Hell, I still love it… I’ll admit it.)
Alesana’s set was perfect. They played old songs that, somehow, I still remembered the words to, and new songs that made me go home and instantly add them to my “must listen to” playlist. The energy was immeasurable even though the crowd left a bit to be desired. They killed it and I don’t care what anyone else thinks, I’m so happy they stayed true to themselves and haven’t had any drastic changes.
The openers of the show really didn’t do much for me except for Artifex Pereo. These guys came up on stage and absolutely blew me away. For their first time in Minnesota, they left a lasting impression me and I am eager to see where they go. These guys sounded like Chiodos only not so much as to seem like a cover band. Their set was clean and powerful and even though the crowd was miniscule, they played their hearts out and owned it. I wish every opening band was like them. They didn’t care that the venue was next to empty, they played their hearts out and because of that, earned new fans. You guys keep it up. Let me know when you come to town next! I’ll drop everything just to see you guys play again.
I wasn’t too excited about the show last night. I had a feeling I was going to sleep through the openers and get pissed when Alesana came out and sounded nothing like they used to. Thank god I was wrong about both of those statements.
Line Up:
(There were a few more but I was late.. stupid early all ages shows)
Venue- Amsterdam Hall
Sausage Fest Meter- 12 out of 10
Broken Bones/ Injuries- None
Average Age- 12–Maybe I’m exaggerating, but you get it.
Found in the Pit- 2 lone dancers
Crowd Surfers- None
Stage Divers- None
“Celebrity” Sightings in the Crowd- Lee from Mithya; D.J from Buried Above Ground; Rocky, the world’s best bartender
Overall Score- 8 out of 10
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