Lithium Magazine

Review and Photos by Aaron Tamachi

To try to describe the experience of this sold out show at the Opera House on March 2nd is almost an impossible task.  But one’s thing is for sure, the night was memorable for all in attendance.  I can guarantee that no one on the face of this earth has experienced the wonder, awe, celebration, and, at times, extreme awkwardness as in this performance.

Originally, Oshawa’s Sleep When Your Dead wasn’t supposed to play the evening; however, Secrets from San Diego was able to clear the boarder. SWYD filled in the spot gloriously to a somewhat receptive crowd, while putting everything they had into their show.   SWYD will be recording a free live show at the MOD Club Saturday, March 9, so go and become famous!

Next up was Glass Cloud from Hampton, Virginia, and needless to say, this set will go down in Opera House history, but perhaps not for the best of reasons. The band opened with 3 solid neck breaking songs, for which Chris Taylor (ex Kingdoms, Abandon All Ships) was invited to play drums. It was shaping up to be one of the greatest acts I’ve seen in a while, and then the unfathomable happened - after the 3rd song, vocalist Jerry Roush felt it was necessary to apologize to the crowd because the sound tech: “Didn’t know how to mix the f-ing monitors right!” as he held his mic to the monitors and created loud feedback sounds before chucking two mics to the ground. Arguments ensued from both the tech and Roush after the tech turned off both microphones, and the audience turned on the sound tech with insults, derogatory chants and name calling. It was the most bizarre thing I’ve ever witnessed at an all-ages show.  Though most fans were upset that eventually the band was kicked off the stage by the sound crew, a few were sympathetic towards the situation.

Nevertheless, there was no problem for the next band, Issues, when they took the stage quickly and efficiently…… but not before a little surprise as keyboardist Tyler Acord invited me onstage to photograph with an All Access Pass, which gave our Lithium viewers a unique perspective of the show. This fantastic band had no Issue (pardon the pun) as they were able to turn the negative situation into a positive one, with extreme amounts of energy, handstands off the drum kit kick drum, spin kicks, and everything in between. The audience couldn’t get enough.  Imagine in your very creative minds every mosh pit you can think of—punch pits, mosh pits, throw down pits, and circle pits—they had them all. One of the coolest parts of the evening came towards the end of the set when brothers Tyler and Skyler jumped off the stage to throw down with their fans, during their own set! It was so great to see such interaction and love between fans and band. A fan favorite proved to be a cover found on the latest Punk Goes Pop album ‘Boyfriend’ by the Canadian  Beaver himself, Justin Bieber. Catch Tyler A. next week with SWYD at the MOD Club when they record their live show, for free cost to you.

Then the lights went out as a sound sample was heard like the gavel of Alexander, and out walked Like Moths to Flames, all wearing matching shirts with the band logo on the back. They were greeted by adoring fans screaming ‘Moths To Flames’ and already pushing others against the stage to get closer to the band.

With as much power and drive as Issues, LMTF looked like they were having a blast. There was a circle pit for nearly the entire set. Bodies were flying left, right, and center as vocalist Chris Roetter called out during “You Won’t Be Missed” for the crowd to ‘fucking hit somebody’. You know that scene in Willy Wonka where they are in the elevator at the end, and Wonka says the elevator can go in absolutely any direction? It was very similar to the stage as fans flocked to it and proceeded to stage dive, flip, toss, and mosh.

Silverstein prepping for their set was interesting, with Billy was stroking his God-like beard, Josh twisting his moustache tips, Shane getting a pep talk, and both Pauls stretching.  ‘SILVERSTEIN SILVERSTEIN’ the crowd chanted in a cult-like resonance as the band took the stage. The band opened with a howl on “Stand Amid the Roar”. It was no time at all before fans were stage diving into and onto other audience members. A lot of material from the Discovering the Waterfront album obviously pleased the audience, with songs like “Bleeds No More”, “Your Sword vs. My Dagger”, and part of their encore, “My Heroine”.  “Call it Karma” was particularly interesting done acoustically.

Every show I’ve attended for Silverstein has been extremely memorable as I’m sure it was for Mike and Jen, a couple from Connecticut.  Shane called the couple to the stage so the audience could witness yet another special moment, as Mike got down on one knee and proposed to the love of his life. The crowd screamed louder than ever before as Jen said yes to the question fans now all wanted an answer to.  

As mentioned before, this show was the weirdest, craziest, most emotional and interesting show I’ve ever covered, and it’s one I’ll never forget. 

Silverstein Setlist:
Stand Amid the Roar
Sacrifice
Bleeds No More
Your Sword vs. My Dagger
S.O.S
American Dream
On Brave Mountains We Conquer
In Silent Seas We Drown
Vices
Place of Solace
The Artist
Smashed to Pieces
Massachusetts
Broken Stars

Encore:

Call It Karma-Acoustic
Departures
My Heroine
Smile in your Sleep

Sleep When You’re Dead  https://www.facebook.com/swydhc
Glass Cloud  https://www.facebook.com/glasscloud
Issues  https://www.facebook.com/issuesofficial
Like Moths To Flames   https://www.facebook.com/likemoths
Silverstein  http://www.silversteinmusic.com