CHEVELLE /ASKING ALEXANDRIA /DEAD POET SOCIETY – THE OAKDALE
By Ralph Beauchamp
Chevelle just dropped their new full length entitled Bright as Blasphemy two weeks ago and are already blessing it with an extended tour. They brought their show to the Oakdale Theater in Wallingford with Asking Alexandria and Dead Poet Society for support. The last time we caught Chevelle was also at the Oakdale but this time around they played the main stage as opposed to performing in The Dome. The Oakdale is a beautiful venue that still maintains that 50’s feel. Built to resemble a barn, it has been in operation since 1954 and has hosted rock, pop and hip hop concerts as well as plays and special events. It is truly a special venue.
Opening the night was Dead Poet Society. I was not that familiar with the group but after listening to their music for a couple of days, I was quickly becoming a fan. The band was formed in Boston while the members were attending the Berklee College of Music. Their sound kind of skims off of several genres. They concoct a heavenly brew of hard rock, alt metal and indie rock. The ensemble is composed by Jack Underkofler (Vocals/Guitar), Jack Collins (Guitar), Nick Taylor (Bass) and Will Goodroad (Drums).
The first song was their hit, “.intoodeep”, and I was amazed how many people in the pit were singing along. Their devotees were well represented. Right from the start, you could feel their energy and the audience were giving it right back at them. Underkofler had everything well in hand and the band’s musicianship was outstanding. “I hope you hate me”, “.Salt.”, “Lo Air” and “.CoDA.” followed. By now the house was definitely grooving to their infectious vibe.
Dead Poet Society closed out with two killer tunes, “Running In Circles” and my personal favorite “HURT”. “HURT” exudes a cool Badflower aura. All in all, Dead Poet Society is a band to watch. Great songs and a dynamic live show make an invincible combination.
Up next was the English group, Asking Alexandria. The band has been a mainstay in the hard rock/nu-metal scene for quite awhile. Formed in 2003, they have nine studio albums under their belt. Asking Alexandria is made up of Danny Worsnop (Vocals/Guitar), Cameron Liddell (Guitar), Sam Bentley (Bass) and James Cassells (Drums). Also onstage was Paul Bartolome (Rhythm Guitar/Backing Vocals).
Their nine song set was full of excitement and intensity with Worsnop being an explosive frontman. “Things Could Be Different” started things off and right from the first note, the pit was fierce. Things heated up when Asking Alexandria started to play “Dark Void” which is a huge track of theirs. The band used the stage like a battlefield. Before “Down to Hell”, Danny make the entire Oakdale stand saying “this is a rock concert, so get up” which everyone did. “Into the Fire” triggered the first mosh pit of the evening.
“Alone in a Room” brought out the heat. The next song was a bit of a change with Wornsnop singing “Someone, Somewhere” solo on an acoustic guitar. It actually was a profound moment. “Moving On” had an acoustic intro until the full band jammed out. Asking Alexandria closed out with the metalcore infused “The Final Episode (Let’s Change the Channel” which drove the pit into a frenzy. The only drawback to an excellent set was a poor sound mix. Way too bass heavy which droned out some of the vocals. Still a sterling performance by a top tier band.
Just oblige me a quick review of Chevelle‘s new album, Bright as Blasphemy. It has to one of this year’s hardest hitting records . Every track on the full length has a singular feel and edge. The rifling guitars and audacious bass deliver a sonic landslide of exquisite beauty. Sam Loeffler’s percussions cascade with ferocious determination. Bright as Blasphemy is a pulverizing tome filled with both fury and embolden textures.
Now on to the show. Chevelle came out spitting fire. “Family System” was explosive as well as the second song, “Self Destructor”. The Oakdale was feeling it especially the pit which erupted into a barrage of bodies. Mosh pits were on the rise and well as the first crowd surfers. The tension filled fervor was just beginning. Pete Loefffler (Vocals/Guitar) was a devouring the adoring fans while his brother Sam was devouring his kit. Sam’s drumming was truly spectacular. Every hit was an exploding stick of voracious dynamite. Kemble Walters (Bass/Backing Vocals) was just as impressive. This unit absolutely slayed the audience.
“Rabbit Hole – Cowards Pt. 1” off the new album kept the potency flowing. The crowd surfing became more frequent with security having their hands full. “An Island”, “Joyride (Omen)” and “Face to the Floor” ensued. “Pale Horse”, another track off of Bright as Blasphemy saw the largest mosh pit yet. Pete was loving it. He kept tossing aural grenades into the crowd and the crowd embraced each blast. Throughout the 14 song set, Chevelle offered impetuous palettes of glorious tumult. Chevelle finished with four incendiary tunes. “Jim Jones (Cowards Pt. 2)” led into “The Clincher”, “Forfeit” and “Send the Pain Below” which had the pit in full propulsion.
Chevelle‘s encore was just a strong. Pete started it with an acoustic rendition of “The Red” which was simply sublime. That transitioned into “Comfortable Liar” and “I Get It”. The last song of the night was an unreal version of “Mars Simula” that cranked the level to an eleven. Chevelle was simply destroying the house and each and every person was feeling their flow.
It was a great evening of music. The Oakdale knows how to put on a show. All three bands were superb and everyone left with a special glow. If you ever get a chance to see any of these acts, don’t hesitate. Chevelle, Asking Alexandria and Dead Poet Society are all worth it.
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