Underoath
Liacouras Center @ Temple University – Philadelphia, PA – 3.22.2017
Words & Photos by Jordyn Beschel
The American Nightmare Tour has been taking the nation by storm ever since tickets went on sale this past fall. Multiple venues have sold out well in advance, with every other venue following close behind. Bring Me The Horizon has taken along very special guests Beartooth and Underoath to get the crowds riled up every night, and I was lucky enough to catch Underoath during the tour’s stop in Philly this past week.
Although Underoath is one of my all-time favorite bands, it seems my affinity to the band’s performance was not entirely personal bias. I felt in my element as a great majority of attendees had on UØ merch and were gearing up to see them, some for the first time since their reunion and some for the very first time ever.
The band entered the stage one by one as the loudspeaker played back an emergency broadcast, which resembled the theme of their 2008 album Lost In The Sound Of Separation. After this warning message, Underoath broke immediately into one of their heaviest songs “Everyone Looks So Good From Here” off of Define The Great Line (2006). Within seconds of frontman Spencer Chamberlain’s first yell, fists were in the air and fans were bouncing along with every downbeat. To the crowd’s surprise, the song ended short and cut into “In Regards to Myself,” the popular starting track to DTGL. Underoath has a strong reputation for keeping their crowds engaged and on their toes at all times, whether they’re an opening act or headlining on their own, and this tour was absolutely no exception to the rule.
A very special segment of Underoath’s set was when they played “It’s Dangerous Business Walking Out Your Front Door” from their infamous full-length They’re Only Chasing Safety. When the crowd began to sing, “Drowning in my sleep,” Chamberlain dropped away from his mic completely and drummer/vocalist Aaron Gillespie stepped out from his set as they let the haunting choir voices bellow throughout the venue. Looking around the room, it was hard to find just one person not singing along at the top of their lungs, and the sound itself was truly mesmerizing. The band continued on to play some of their other crowd-pleasing jams like “A Boy Brushed Red… Living in Black and White”, and “Reinventing Your Exit” towards the end of their set, which had long-time fans heading down memory lane. I was especially pleased to hear personal favorites “A Moment Suspended in Time”, and “Breathing in a New Mentality” (which sent flashbacks to the band’s farewell tour back in the spring of 2013).
Underoath is ultimately one of the most entertaining bands to see live, and there is no doubt that they were a perfect fit to take on a supporting role for a band like Bring Me The Horizon. The music in every song is intense and captivating, and the lyrics are relatable and cathartic. Whether you have been a fan since The Changing of Times or had only discovered them since the hype of the Rebirth Tour, you are guaranteed a memorable experience with some of the most passionate and experienced performers in our scene today.
Remaining dates of the American Nightmare Tour:
3/27 – The Pageant – St. Louis, MO
3/28 – Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland – Kansas City, MO
3/29 – 1st Bank Center – Broomfield, CO
4/01 – Wamu Theater – Seattle, WA
4/03 – The Warfield – San Francisco, CA
4/04 – The Warfield – San Francisco, CA
4/06 – Shrine La Outdoors – Los Angeles, CA
4/07 – Comerica Theatre – Phoenix, AZ
4/08 – The Joint, Hard Rock Hotel + Casino – Las Vegas, NV