ROCHESTER, NY- I have always been a big fan of heavy metal/punk shows where moshing and crowd surfing to run rampant. There is just something oh-so satisfying in head-banging and energetically flailing around with a bunch of other strangers to some heavy guitar rifts and screeching vocals. It really allows one to get out the pent up aggression or other strong emotions they maybe harbor inside of them. Witnessing my fair share of face-melting performances by both punk and metal acts alike, my expectations were understandably high for the hardcore dudes of Every Time I Die as the returned to their hometown of Buffalo to conclude a two month long tour. Notorious for their wild live shows which usually involve a couple stage dives, kicks to the head, and numerous bloody noses, I was more than primed to get my ass handed to me as the night commenced.
As thousands packed into the sold-out Buffalo Riverworks, fans were treated to a smorgasbord of opening acts that kicked off the festivities (Vein, Angel Du$t, Turnstile, Knocked Loose, The Menzingers, Bouncing Souls, & Snapcase). For me, my favorite out of these acts had to be Turnstile. The Baltimore punk collective reminded me heavily of Rage Against the Machine with their explosive energy and similar style. Admittedly, I did have to put my camera down after three songs to surf my way over the crowd which always a good time.
After Snapcase, another one of Buffalo’s finest, finished their set, a projector screen dropped down and hid the stage as the production team prepped it for the main attraction: Every Time I Die. It was somewhat ironic to see a warm and calming fireplace being projected on the screen, crackling and really embodying the holiday spirit considering shit was about to hit the fan in a matter of minutes.
As the lights dimmed down and the screen cut to black, frontman Keith Buckley’s silhouette could be seen from behind the screen as he sang the opening cords to “Moor”. A song from their 2014 LP From Parts Unknown, their live rendition followed the same structure as the studio version. Starting off slow with soft vocals, blaring drums and a screeching guitar followed Buckley’s voice as the curtain dropped and sparks shot up from every which way. This sudden explosion of noise nearly threw me and the thirty other photographers in the pit (I shit you not, the tightest pit ever) up against the barricade as the bodies and legs from fans began to flow over.
Although most would disagree, I find it exhilarating to dodge the bodies of crowd surfers flowing over the barricade that security had to catch as you’re trying to get the many shots unfolding on stage. ETID heightened this experience for me tenfold, as the dudes jumped and flailed wildly around making it more than entertaining for me to capture their brilliance unfold.
From this killer opening, they went directly into “Emergency Broadcast System”. A track from their debut album Last Night in Town, ETID holds nothing back as they continue to pummel the listener with their unapologetically heavy and rich sound. Considering it was their hometown show, every fan in attendance seemed to be harmonizing with Buckley as he belted out chord after chord. Buckley and company seemed to be thriving off of the energy the crowd was giving back to them, jumping off stage into the audience continuously to show their ravenous fans some love.
For me, the highlight of ETID’s performance had to be when they closed out the night with “The Coin Has a Say” and “Map Change”. Two extremely fast-paced songs that were a perfect ending to an overall flawless execution of how a metalcore concert should be. ETID gives it their absolute all from start to finish. Drenched in sweat and looking like they just finished a triathlon, the dudes of ETID put on one of the the most intense and enriching metal shows I have ever witnessed to date; an impressive feat considering I’ve seen acts such as Metallica and Slipknot in my years of attending these types of shows. ETID is really an important center-piece of Buffalo’s music scene, demonstrated when the band was officially recognized by the mayor of Buffalo and given an official award/seal of approval by the city for their efforts. This has officially immortalized them in the hearts and minds of many in Buffalo for being only a handful of legendary musical acts to come out of the surrounding area i.e. The Goo Goo Dolls, Rick James. As another year of ETID’s metal-extravaganza comes to an end, fans will undoubtedly be looking forward to their two-night special come next year.
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LIVE CLIPS
