Yours Truly, touring behind their new album Afterglow, took the stage promptly at 8pm to get the night going. The Australian pop punk group boasted a fun-filled, high energy set that really set the tone for the evening. Lead singer Mikaila made the most of the stage and bounced all around. Her vocals sounded strong and carried well throughout Gas Monkey Bar n’ Grill. Musically, they certainly came to impress. The title track of the new album got the biggest response from the crowd. They had their fair share of fans in attendance and left a lasting impression on me. They are fun and have multiple songs that encourage fans to sing along.
Hot Mulligan came on next, around 8:50, to a very large reaction from the audience. This group is hilarious! I honestly couldn’t tell you what I enjoyed more, the witty banter or the music they make. There wasn’t a moment that lost your attention. The song “I Fell In Love With Princess Peach” sent the crowd wild. A small pit opened up, beer flew, and the crowd screamed back. Hailing from Michigan, they bring an effervescent set that had a Taking Back Sunday feel to it, and the song titles to match. At one point, they broke into a Lil Jon song and the whole crowd joined in to completion. I highly recommend checking them out and you can expect to hear more about them in the future.
Senses Fail hit the stage at 9:55 and all the teenage angst the crowd had left hit the floor. Performing From The Depths of Dreams in its entirety, plus some additional classic tracks, they boasted an 18 song set list and an almost two hour set. These dudes are still tearing it up! I’ve seen less movement out of people half their age. James “Buddy” Nielsen is kinetic and relentless, all while never seeming to be winded. He jumped, spun, and swung his microphone like it was 2006. As I was crouching in front of the barrier, the wooden structure of the venue began to noticeably bounce as the crowd became a leaping mass of excitement. You had ages 8 to 60 present and singing along to every single song they played that evening. These guys haven’t lost a single step. Instrumentally, they sounded sharp and full and all members showed solid movement. They led off with “Steven” and played through the entire EP before playing “Choke on This” and “Wounds.” They even played the Suicidal Tendencies original, ‘Institutionalized.” They finally ended the night with one of my personal favorites, “Bite to Break Skin.” I’m genuinely impressed with how polished they sounded, how well they controlled the crowd, and how they kept that energy coming through the whole night.
This bill was put together beautifully with each band building off the next. The ticket pricing is reasonable and the entire show is an all around good time. Get some tickets if you can!
– Brently Kirksey
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