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Atreyu
Every Time I Die
Chiodos
Takota
I Am The Ocean
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SaltAir Pavilion
Magna, UT
11/12/2006
By: Caz* Bevan
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After a long week and an even longer-seeming weekend, I
arrived with high expectations. This show was meant to be
none other than my weekend savior. This show had to be
my every cure so I sat, anxious to be redeemed.
I Am The Ocean, local to Utah, was the first to take the
stage. Unfortunately, the venue seemed to treat them as an
eternal sound check. Technical difficulties discouraged the
band, taking the wind from their passion. Still, they fueled
their frustrations into a great performance. Definitely a fine
match for this tour, I Am The Ocean was cut a bad deal and
still came out as an impressive band full of movement -
getting the crowd far more hyped and prepared for what was
to come in Takota.
Takota was put into this tour as a replacement of From First
To Last. This band didn't seem to match the tour
whatsoever, although lead vocalist, Grant Arnow's stage
presence bears a striking resemblance to Bon Jovi's, which
was definitely entertaining. The venue walls were lined with
people sitting down, waiting for the real show to start. The
drummer/vocalist of Atreyu, Brandon Saller, joined Grant.
Fans hardly even cheered at the guest appearance. The
anticipation thickened.
Chiodos overpowered the stage, coming in with their typical
intro, launching the entire audience. Chiodos was the only
band of this lineup to receive such a large response, keeping
the crowd entertained and moving the entire time. On tour
since October, Chiodos has a reputation for the greatest live
performance you will ever see. Indeed, they follow through
time and time again.
Somehow better this time, the band played with more
emotion and power than I've witnessed in the past. Lead
vocalist, Craig Owens, surprised long time fans with a
deeper, far more intense scream than before. Owens, pacing
the stage, brought crisp lyrics and hit every note with
perfection along side the most entertaining guitarist, Jason
Hale, and keyboardist, Bradley Bell - constantly rocking out,
dancing, spinning, kicking, you name it! In fact, a lovely
addition to this tour was the moment that Bradley Bell
brought out an infamous white-80's key-tar and did a dainty
sideshow dance while the rest of the band proceeded into a
heavy breakdown.
Not a band of many words, the band flows from one song to
the next building you up throughout the show and never
letting you down. That is, until they leave the stage with no
encore. It was obvious that the majority of Salt Lake City
are dedicated fans of Chiodos, as the venue seemed half
empty by the time Every Time I Die staged.
Every Time I Die was lucky to have made it to Salt Lake.
The night before, alongside I-80, parked and attempting to
get some rest, a semi nearly wiped them out sliding on ice
into the side of their van. Despite Mother Nature attempting
to keep them out of Salt Lake for the second time in a row,
Every Time I Die packed their aggravation into a solid
performance. They made sure to include their exclusive
track for the popular video game, Guitar Hero, in which
every Guitar Hero fan in attendance proceeded to
demonstrate their air-guitar skills. Definitely an amusing site,
Every Time I Die seemed to be pumped by this and launched
into what I would dub as guitarist jumping jacks - throwing
the guitar overhead while jumping all over the stage, over
and over again. This got the crowd pumped just in time to
leave them hanging once again in anticipation of
Atreyu.
Have you ever noticed that headlining bands - despite
having their gear already on stage - take the longest to
actually get on stage. Perhaps they think this builds
suspense, however, headlining bands seem to forget that it
also builds expectation. With individual pedestals for each
member and an extreme high rise for vocalist/drummer,
Brandon Saller, Atreyu failed at an explosive
entrance.
Taking a moment to get excited, fans seemed to continue in
anticipation until Atreyu began playing their song, "Crimson,"
encouraging fans to get their lighters and cell phones. Now,
with an obvious response from the fans, everyone seemed a
little more involved in the set. Atreyu mostly played material
from their most recent album, A Death Grip On
Yesterday. Fans from a variety of backgrounds
united, forming a makeshift circle pit while chanting the
lyrics.
Zoned out, I smiled. Chiodos, as usual, was by far the best
band, yet all in all, the lineup was near perfect. The night
seemed complete. Hardcore holds a sense of empowerment
for me. It is arousing and compelling. I feel drawn to it by
some deep undertone, willing to be entirely captivated by it.
I find that romantic. Music you can fall in love with and rely
on. My weekend was saved.
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