The most beautiful thing that can ever happen at a show is when you go in with absolutely no expectations whatsoever. And while I am huge fan of some of the bands I saw on this particular night, I was blown away by the experience I had when I went to the Black Mass Tour. Headlined by Black Veil Brides and Falling In Reverse with support from The Drama Club and Set It Off, this show had a little bit of everything for the rock lovers.
 

EDM duo The Drama Club started off the show and while I was VERY VERY hesitant to them the second I figured out it was EDM, these guys got the crowd going – jumping and screaming, while song lyrics flashed behind them on a giant LED screen. I personally have never been so close to an EDM artist and these two are all about head banging and feeling the music so it made for some fantastic photo opportunities. These two embodied what an opener should be: high energy, jumping, and showing that they are having a good time. They got the crowd going and ready for the night.
 

Up next was Set It Off. Now, I have been briefed by friends about how much they love this band but I had yet to really give them a full listen, and within seconds of them hitting the stage I was in love. Drummer Maxx Danziger was giving me all sorts of life as did every member of the band. The crowd was treated to various songs of the pop-punk discography, however the band made it a point to share tracks off the new album, Duality. Seconds after I was out of the pit I was texting my friend, “Holy crap, I LOVE SHOOTING SET IT OFF.” These guys delivered and only continued to build on the energy The Drama Club started.
 

I anxiously waited for the next band – a band I have listened to since the vocalists’ earlier days in a previous group – a band I have had a love hate relationship with, and a band who truly stole the show. Led by energetic and smiling Ronnie Radke, Falling In Reverse took the stage in basketball/workout gear. For a troupe that has seen various lineup changes in their time, the one thing this band has a presence of brotherhood, that they are a cohesive unit, especially with the recent addition of Jonathan Wolfe – everything looked and felt so natural for this guy.

The true treat of the night, that brought me back to my days as an angsty highschooler, was when Jacky Vincent played the opening notes of “Not Good Enough For Truth In Cliche’.” A song once played by Radke’s former band back in 2006, played 8 years later. Surreal does not begin to explain how awesome it was to see that live as I sang along to every word. Following that, the band played the song that started it all, “The Drug In Me Is You.” I have had my personal reservations with Falling In Reverse but they blew it out of the water. They truly brought it and put on a heck of a show and they truly do have my loyalty as a fan.
 

I have been around loud crowds but I have never heard such an earth shaking response to when headliners Black Veil Brides took the stage. Led by the “heartthrob” (not my words, someone’s in the crowd) Andy Biersack the Black Veil Brides treated the crowd to a true plethora of music, spanning from their first release “We Stitch The Wounds” to tons of new music from their most recent self-titled release, Back Veil Brides. Beautiful lighting allowed of this show to come to life and the crowd was energized from start to end. It was bass player Ashley Purdy though who made this set so enjoyable to photograph. Wherever I was, Purdy would be playing to the photographers, licking his lips, or even giving me the “the bird”, he truly made it a point to give not only the crowd an amazing show, but us photographers some love. Throw in a drum solo from drummer CC and this show was truly your ideal rock experience. And of course no BVB show would be complete without closing it all out with the infamous anthem, “In The End.”

All in all The Black Mass Tour was one of the best photographic and musical experiences of my year. It was such a surprise that all the acts truly stole the show in their own right, and I am so happy I could be there to capture it all. Till next time and with photos as always.

See You In The Pit,

Greg
 

34

Add to the story...