The screams heard coming from Irving Plaza this past Halloween had nothing to do with being scared. It was a night for screamo rock n’ roll in New York City and the venue was packed with music lovers. With a good mix of fans in face paints to celebrate Halloween this was sure to be a fun night. The “Tracing Back Roots Tour” featuring We Came As Romans, Silverstein, Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! ,The Color Morale, and Dangerkids rounded up a line-up of some of the best screamo bands in the genre. The featured bands didn’t just bring their screams on stage, but also their Halloween cheer as each act celebrated the holiday in their own way.
Opening up the show was relatively new band Dangerkids. From Dayton, OH, the band is comprised of Andy Bane (vocals), Tyler Smyth (vocals), Jake Bryant (guitar), Jake Bonham (bass), and Katie Cole (drums). The young band combine an interesting mix of hardcore, rock, and rap together. They made their grand entrance onto the stage while wearing hollow jack-o-lanterns as masks. The band’s debut album Collapse is out now for fans interested in rap and rock hybrids.
The Color Morale was up next. From Rockford, Il, the metalcore band’s newest record Know Hope is receiving rave reviews and top chart positions in various formats of rock. The band hit the stage with costume beards to help celebrate the Halloween holiday. The gentlemen put on a fantastic set of screamo that had the crowd moving. Their 6 song set list was high intensity from beginning to end.
After two bands to start the party Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! was next; bringing an international flare to the evening as the band hails from France. With the release of their new album Pardon My French in April they seem to be taking the next step in their careers. As they came out on stage they followed the costume trend as Bertrand Poncet (vocals) appeared on stage cross-dressed as a woman. This bold move made the crowds go wild. Even with such a comical wardrobe choice, the band was still so genuine in their playing, they were able to stay connected to the crowds all throughout the performance. With possibly the most pop punk influence of the evening Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! was a great mix of energy and diversity.
Finally, it was time for the headlining bands of the “Tracing Back Roots Tour”. The Canadian rockers Silverstein were set to take the stage. Now 13 years on the scene with 6 albums to their credit, it’s safe to say these guys are a well established force. Last year many fans were taken by surprise when long time lead guitarist Neil Boshart departed from Silverstein, but new guitarist Paul Marc Rousseau has not skipped a beat as a new member.
Silverstein literally stole the show as they entered the stage with the enactment of a skit. Each band member transformed into a character from AMC’s Breaking Bad for this special Halloween show. Not only did their costumes and acting skills impress the New York audience, but it added a really great feel to this special show. The band performed a well-rounded set ranging from “Smashed Into Pieces” to “Stand Amid the Roar” and everything in between. An exciting moment in the set was when the band introduced a brand new track entitled “I Will Illuminate”. Full of excitement and energy Silverstein excited fans the entire set through.
As the Silverstein set came to a close, the anticipation for headlining act, We Came As Romans, was at an all-time high. Four years since the band’s debut release To Plant a Seed, this band from Troy, MI has blasted onto the metalcore scene. Now having done extensive touring across the world ,We Came As Romans is ready to celebrate the Tracing Back Roots album on this headlining tour.
They entered the stage at Irving Plaza dressed as themselves, We Came As Romans certainly did not need a costume to draw the crowd in. With their strong performance,and the crowd completely engaged in the set, it was more than enough. Each song was more captivating than the last and the fans in the crowd were either crowd surfing their way to the front of the venue or screaming the passionate lyrics right back to the band. It seemed that through the entire set the floor was moving from the constant jumping of fans. Attendees of this show left for the evening feeling as fulfilled as a seven-year-old child holding a pumpkin filled with candy. No matter how hardcore, most of the time rock n’ roll can be the sweetest thing of all.
Written by Vanessa Carlucci
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