Article: The Frozen Flame Tour 1/24/15

1. Dreamcatcher
2. Warrior
3. Frostbite
4. Pattern Interrupt
5. Hybrid Earth

I could NOT believe Fit For a King. Ryan Kirby and Co. were just too perfect. Since my first encounter with them at Gramercy Theater later 2013, this band really evolved and improved on an astonishing level. I found myself in awe, jaw dropped and stuttering to work as I listened to the new material I have yet to indulge in. Again, the lighting was horrendous but it did not take away from the action going on. ERRA, FFAK and Northlane all had the same lighting templates, although you saw the improvement during Northlands set. Never the less, FFAK blew me away. After set I chatted with Mr. Kirby who sent me well wishes and salutations on the compliments I bestowed upon him and the crew. Please, see Fit For A King. These guys will take you to the cleaners, figuratively speaking of course.

1. Hollow King (Sound of the End)
2. Ancient Waters
3. Forever Unbroken
4. Young & Undeserving
5. Slave to Nothing
6. The Resistance
7. Warpath

Northlane was up next with new singer Marcus Bridge at the helm replacing Adrian Fitipaldes. His presence on the stage was more reserved than Adrian, but his emotional continuity to his performance was stellar. the seven song set-list was appropriate for the night, giving New Yorkers a taste of the new embraced changes the rest of the world has endured for the Australians. The lights were tricky as hell with fluorescent white mixing with red and his unpredictability on stage in terms of movement only gave me windows of consistent non-motion shots. It was truly irritating for this to occur. Fight the crowd surfers and the tight fit of 14+ photographers and you have a mixture of aggravation out of this universe. I could not get into their music what so ever due to my environment, but the audience was an entirely different story. Change is good, Northlane has proved it. Welcome to the helm Marcus… I, along with the world, support this change.

1. Quantum Flux
2. Worldeater
3. Windbreaker
4. Rot
5. Genesis
6. Scarab
7. Masquerade

Miss May I approached the stage to cheers and chants of the band name from audience members and fans. This was redemption. I stood quiet and I uttered some words before the band began to trickle onto the stage. I said “Alberto, this is for you, for everything the fans have endured and your friends have suffered, we are all here now. We are thankful for your life”. The first three songs were a nightmare. The fans crowd surfed and surfed and surfed and surfed. Levi Benton’s full on energetic force was on every side of the stage and with his fellow guitarists embracing the movement, there was no clear shot. Body after body began to pour into the photo pit as safety measures were of more importance to security and the room began to cramp up inside the pit. After our song ended, Levi talked to the audience about the importance of safety when surfing and pitting. It is a norm, but fighting and violence are not necessary in this art form or musical style. We need to be supportive of each other and maintain our intelligence so that we do not lose another member of our community. Levi then dedicated the performance of the song “Gone” in memory of Alberto Scott, who passed away in a tragic accident nearly a year ago in NYC. This was the show that closed the door on that dark chapter of the community. This was the closure I needed to keep going as a journalist and report what I see and hear with clear facts and professionalism. Levi Benton gave me that closure. For that, he has earned more respect and gratitude I never thought I would see given to a musician. I sang what I could for the song, and proceeded to the back of the room. There is no easy way to close out a chapter in a tragedy that called out for civility and respect. No matter the duration if time, closure comes. I am truly thankful to be present for this set and to watch my colleagues and friends pay their respects to their fallen friend.

1. Hey Mister
2. Masses of a Dying Breed
3. Forgive and Forget
4. Gone
5. Tides
6. Hero With No Name
7. A Dance with Aera Cura
8. Relentless Chaos

The headliner, August Burns Red, was gearing up for their set. I know ABR for their amazing stage presence and lighting. I never seen lighting like theirs. As this would be the second time I encounter them, I knew I was in for a treat. The crowd was in full throttle exhilaration with singing across the entire venue, surfers and yet more surfers. I managed to snag some amazing photos to add to the ones I already love, so it was extra difficult which to keep and which to burn. The band also signed my photography I printed out from my first encounter with them at Best Buy Theater last year. They were all very nice people and appreciated my interest in the music. I for one, missed out on the drummer (as usual my bias comes in) and I manage to snag good photos of him at Irving this time around. I told him I would and I DEFINITELY will be bringing one to autograph for the full set. We do not know each other from any corner of this Earth, yet the warm welcomes and abilities to begin conversations with perfect strangers who appreciate the music is out of this world. Fans and musicians have a common structure between them and this fuel continues the passion I for one continue to burn in my heart. the ABR set was amazing with a 15 song set-list and an early curfew time of 11pm (usually 11:30pm but I guess its too cold for that). My work was beautiful. For once, let me use my ego here since I hardly do.