Words and Photos: Louis Galvez
https://www.instagram.com/mata.ni.louie/
On July 24th, the iconic Irving Plaza in New York City became the epicenter of an electrifying event. AS I LAY DYING, the renowned punk and metalcore band, captivated the audience with their high-energy performance. The night featured an impressive lineup, with ENTHEOS opening and CHELSEA GRIN following. The atmosphere was intense, with numerous crowd surfers adding to the excitement.
ENTHEOS commenced the evening with a dynamic performance. Hailing from Santa Cruz, California, this band is renowned for their distinctively American progressive metal style. Their set was vigorous and accompanied by thought-provoking, socially conscious lyrics. The lighting, predominantly dark and red, posed a challenge for photographers, making it difficult to capture clear images. Despite this, CHANEY CRAB, the band’s formidable frontwoman, commanded the stage with a presence reminiscent of JINJER’s Tatiana Shmayluk. ENTHEOS‘ performance served as an electrifying introduction to the night, featuring relentless riffs and impassioned vocals that prompted enthusiastic headbanging and moshing among early attendees.
CHELSEA GRIN, from Salt Lake City, Utah, is known for their unique sound that is both heavy and intense, with a strong focus on rhythm and aggression. The band’s music often features complex time signatures, polyrhythms, and dissonant harmonies, distinguishing them within the deathcore genre. Reflecting on their 2018 album Eternal Nightmare, which I frequently listened to at the gym, I recalled their impact. The crowd was eagerly anticipating their performance, instantly forming a massive circle pit with the most enthusiastic hardcore fans. Thankfully, their set featured better lighting, allowing for clearer photography. The crowd went wild with circle pits and guitar shredding, delivering one of the most exciting performances I have photographed since starting concert photography.
AS I LAY DYING took the stage next. Timothy Lambesis, with his imposing presence, was reminiscent of a WWE wrestler. His vocalizations are, in my opinion, nearly unmatched in the current scene. They opened their set with “Nothing Left”, delivering thundering rhythms and intense vocals. Ryan Neff matched Tim’s energy with clean, emo-like bassline riffs. So engrossed in the performance, I almost forgot my task of photographing their first three songs. Chaney Crabb joined for their third song, “Redefined”, showcasing remarkable chemistry and energy. The band exceeded my expectations with their powerful performance, featuring songs like “Blinded”, “Falling Upon Deaf Ears”, and “Burden”. The crowd was wild, reminiscent of pre-COVID times, with intense moshing and circle pits. This tour was one of the most exciting I’ve witnessed in a long time. The diverse lineup within the hardcore scene was refreshing, highlighting the skill and wide-ranging talent of these groups and their genres, all of which push the limits.
USA SUMMER 2024
AS I LAY DYING
w/ Chelsea Grin, Entheos
07/09/24: Santa Cruz, CA @ The Catalyst
07/10/24: Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades
07/12/24: Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
07/13/24: Tacoma, WA @ Temple Theatre
07/14/24: Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory
07/15/24: Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex
07/16/24: Denver, CO @ Summit
07/17/24: Kansas City, MO @ The Truman
07/19/24: Grand Rapids, MI @ The Intersection
07/20/24: Mansfield, OH @ INKcarceration
07/21/24: Chicago, IL @ House Of Blues
07/23/24: Albany, NY @ Empire Live
07/24/24: New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
07/25/24: Philadelphia, PA @ Theater of The Livings Arts
07/26/24: Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore
07/27/24: Norfolk, VA @ The NorVa
07/29/24: Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore
07/30/24: Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade
07/31/24: St. Petersburg, FL @ Jannus Landing
08/02/24: Houston, TX @ House Of Blues
08/03/24: Dallas, TX @ The Factory in Deep Ellum
08/04/24: San Antonio, TX @ Vibes Event Center
08/06/24: Albuquerque, NM @ El Rey Theater
08/07/24: Phoenix, AZ @ The Van Buren
08/08/24: Los Angeles, CA @ The Belasco
08/09/24: San Diego, CA @ The Observatory North Park
08/10/24: San Diego, CA @ The Observatory North Park
https://www.facebook.com/asilaydying