When a metalcore band comes to Baltimore, you can be sure of two things. The crowd is going to large and the crowd is going to be wild. That was the case when Every Time I Die visited the Baltimore Soundstage in Baltimore, Maryland on May 8, 2017. Joining them on their current tour is Wage War and ’68.
Opening the evening was a local Maryland band, Birthright. The group pumped out a quick set to get the crowed warmed up and they did a great job. Typically, venues are light on audience members when the first opening act steps onto the stage, but the Baltimore Soundstage was more than half full when the band got started.
The hall was nearing a capacity crowd when ’68 began their set. I was curious to see them play, as there are only two band members, Josh Scogin, vocals/guitar, and Michael McClellan, drums. The two appeared onstage with matching black suits, white shirts and skinny black neckties. Scogin greeted the audience and then the two began their 30 minute set. Scogin’s guitar riffs and smoky voice pleased the crowd and McClellan complimented him well on drums. Nearing the end of their set, Scogin leaned towards McClellan to let him know they had four minutes remaining and then he said “jazz it up and let’s go.” From there they seemingly improvised an awesome jam playing off of each other. In my opinion, they worked well as a duo and I suggest you check them out.
Wage War was next to take the stage. By this time, the venue was packed. There was no barrier separating the crowd from the stage, so bodies were pushed tightly to the front of the stage. Briton Bond, yelled to the crowd “let’s go Baltimore!”, and with that, the stage divers began clawing their way through the crowd to the stage. The band played approximately seven songs off of their 2014 release and their latest album, ‘Deadweight’, including “Stitch” and “Don’t Let Me Fade Away”.
After a short break, Every Time I Die, took the stage and the crowd grew wilder, which didn’t seem possible after seeing them react to Wage War. Singer, Keith Buckley, announced to the crowd that it was their first show headlining at the soundstage and he said their first decision as a headliner was to not have a stage barricade. He encouraged fans to come onstage and stage dive during the performance. He even gave fans a helping hand when they attempted to climb onto the stage from the crowd. With their ferocious guitar riffs, driving percussion and Buckley’s growling vocals which seemed to scream urgency were the backdrop for the fans as they rushed the stage, only to dive back into the swarming crowd. The show was intense from the beginning to the end and the crowd was sweaty and exhausted when it was over. The set included nearly 20 songs that spanned numerous albums including several from their 2016 release, ‘Low Teens’.
If you’re looking for a crazy night of metalcore/punk, I highly suggest you check out Every Time I Die on their headlining tour. Be sure to chug an energy drink or two, you’ll need it.
