THE GHOST INSIDE/UNDEROATH – LIVE AT COLLEGE STREET
The Ghost Inside and Underoath bring their co-headlining tour to College Street Music Hall with We Came as Romans and Better Lovers for support.
There was no lack of energy at College Street on July 21st. Between the four attending bands on the bill, you could of lit up New Haven for a week. The Ghost Inside and Underoath killed it. We Came as Romans and Better Lovers slayed. This metalcore lineup was impressive as well as the the sold out crowd. This was a glorious night for mosh pits and crowd surfing.
My apologizes to Better Lovers. Due to the early start of the show, I only caught their last song, “30 Under 13” which was intense. Labeled as a “supergroup”, members were previously in Every Time I Die and The Dillinger Escape Plan. Lead singer Greg Puciato was manic. He controlled the room with energized enthusiasm. His stage demeanor was frenzied. At one point, he dove into the thrilled audience.
Guitarists Jordan Buckley and Will Putney were colossal while bassist Steve Micciche layed down a monster backbeat. Clayton “Goose” Holyoak’s drums were solid. This is a band going far and even though I only caught one song, I was totally blown away.
We Came as Romans came next and once again I was astounded. The band came out with determined force and verve. Their entire 9 song set was full of brazen ferocity. Lead vocalist, Dave Stephens delivered an emboldened performance. He was totally explosive. Guitarists Joshua Moore and Lou Cotton destroyed . Andy Glass on bass simply slaughtered while David Puckett on drums was on point. The band was fearless.
The group started off with “Darkbloom” and followed with “Daggers” both off their 2022 album Darkbloom. “Wasted Age” and “Cold Like War” hit hard. “Doublespeak” and “Plagued” pushed the throng to form amplified mosh pits. “Tracing Back Roots” and “Hope” furthered the crazy. Their intermixing of dirty and clean vocals was propulsive. We Came as Romans saved the best for last. Their huge hit “Black Hole” had the room raging. This was an tremendous set with fireworks everywhere.
When Underoath hit the stage, the audience’s kinetic furor rose. The band immediately came out swinging. Every member of Underoath was crazed. They completely devoured the feverish crowd. Mosh pits were forming throughout the venue and the crowd surfing intensified. Lead vocalist, Spencer Chamberlain commanded mayhem and the room responded. Lead guitarist Timothy McTague musicianship was outstanding and he constantly ran the length of the stage. Grant Brandell on bass was invincible while Christopher Dudley on keys was constantly in motion. Drummer Aaron Gillespie pounded tenacious torrents of merciless rhythm. These boys were on fire.
“Take a Breath” off their 2022 Voyeurist was the first song out. It set the tone for Underoath‘s entire performance. Strong and hard, the song stirred the souls of the assembled throng. “Writing on the Walls” and “Hallelujah” were next. “Breathing in a New Mentality” preceded their new track, “Lifeline (Drowning)”. Chamberlain was constantly egging on their devoted fans. They jumped, raised their fists and headbanged throughout Underoath‘s dynamic presentation. Other highlights from the group were “Let Go” and “Cycle”. Underoath closed out with a monstrous version of “A Boy Brushed Red Living in Black and White”.
Co-headliners, The Ghost Inside was the final act and as soon as they came out the venue’s excitement went through the roof. The band had been in a horrible bus accident in 2015 and are lucky to be able to still perform. Drummer Andrew Tkaczyk even lost a leg. Jonathan Vigil (Lead Vocals) was dispensing outbursts of sonic turmoil. Zach Johnson (Lead Guitar/Backing Vocals) was brutal with aural outbursts of mayhem. Chris Dale (Rhythm Guitar) was truly edgy while Jim Riley (Bass) was laying down profoundly huge basslines. Tkaczyk percussions were raging and infectious.
“Avalanche” off their 2014 release Dear Youth began the onslaught. After”The Outcast” and “Engine 45”, The Ghost Inside played two songs from their 2020 full length, The Ghost Inside. “Pressure Point’ and “One Choice” were definitely fan favorites as the audience went wild with delight. Their new single “Earn It” went over well. The set intensified with “Mercy” running into “The Great Unknown” and “Dark Horse”. The room was loving every minute. They thrived on The Ghost Inside‘s pulverizing barrage. The band finished with a ruthless version of “Aftermath”. The Ghost Inside thoroughly conquered.
It was an illustrious evening of heavy and hammering music and everyone left happily spent.
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