Words and Images: DJ/Screaming Digital Productions
The second leg of the “All My Friends” tour hit The Signal in Chattanooga, TN on Friday the 18th. Bringing metalcore heaven to the forefront with bands like Archers, The Word Alive, veterans Memphis May Fire, and Asking Alexandria, the show was a night to remember. This was my first time covering a gig at The Signal, although I’d been to the Barrelhouse Ballroom earlier in the year. Both venues are great, but The Signal’s setup is similar to Mars Music Hall in Huntsville, with a VIP second level offering a bird’s-eye view of the stage.
Perfect weather set the stage for an intense night of Metalcore action. I wasn’t too familiar with Archers, to be honest, as I’ve only recently started listening to more metalcore. However, they put on a great performance with songs like “Drag Me Out” and “Bitter,” warming up the crowd nicely for The Word Alive.
Another long-standing metalcore band, The Word Alive, also delivered an incredible performance. Their singer, Tyler Smith, is a powerhouse who brought a lot of intensity to the stage. They got the crowd going with songs like “Hard Reset” and “Trapped.” These former Arizona natives, now based in Nashville, electrified the crowd as crowd surfing became a staple of the night. I really enjoyed their set.
Texas has produced some killer metal bands, and Memphis May Fire is definitely one of them. They’ve been around as long as Asking Alexandria, and I remember covering them years ago on the Warped Tour. Last year we covered them as well as they toured with Parkway Drive, and that was another blistering bill. Matty Mullins and company always bring it, and as soon as they hit the stage, the amps were vibrating so loud you could feel the ground shake. Songs like “Necessary Evil” and “Left for Dead” got the crowd going wild, and Matty is an incredibly intense frontman. Their set was full of energy and chaos, and I really enjoyed it.
Asking Alexandria came on after a short load-out and set change. While I’m not a longtime fan of the band, having only started following them after their self-titled album in 2017, I’ve always appreciated their intensity and Danny Worsnop’s vocals. I know many longtime fans have had their struggles dealing with the band’s evolving sound over the years, but I personally enjoyed their latest album, “Where Do We Go From Here,” which was one of my favorites of the year.
They started their set with some older songs like “Welcome” and “Dear Insanity,” but they also played others from their back catalog such as “Down To Hell” and of course classics “Into the Fire.” Asking Alexandria still sounds great live, and they hit all the right notes. I particularly enjoyed their performance of “Dark Void” and “Things Could Be Different.” The uber-melodic “Moving On” was a nice change of pace from the harder stuff they usually play.
The encore included “Don’t Pray for Me” and the classic “Alone in A Room.” I enjoyed their set and was happy I was able to cover it. The last time I saw them was in Huntsville opening for Shinedown at the arena a few years ago.
Regarding Danny Worsnop’s vocal situation, it’s a testament to his dedication and resilience that he has been able to continue performing despite tearing a vocal chord over a decade ago. He has had to adapt his vocal style to protect his voice, and while some fans may miss his earlier, more aggressive style, it’s clear that he has found a way to sustain his career without compromising his health. The rest of the band sounded great live, and I’m a big fan of James Cassells’ drumming. The overall sound was heavy but not overly distorted, allowing Worsnop’s vocals to be heard clearly.
As it turns out that Friday the 18th, Asking Alexandria made headlines with the release of their new digital EP, WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? THE REMIXES. The EP features remixed versions of popular tracks from their acclaimed 2023 album, WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?, and includes contributions from renowned producers like Weird Genius, Fairlane, and Sullivan King.
The band shared two of the EP’s songs in September, including the fan-favorite track “Bad Blood,” which was remixed by the record-breaking Indonesian DJ group Weird Genius, and a sci-fi themed music video for the album’s third most highest streaming track, “Let Go,” remixed by up-and-coming LA-based producer kodeblooded.
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? THE REMIXES includes seven tracks with additional remixes from multi-instrumentalist, producer, and actor Cass Dillon; viral Canadian producer and multi-instrumentalist Fairlane (Rihanna, Ava Max, Imagine Dragons); and DJ/heavy metal guitarist Sullivan King (Papa Roach, The Chainsmokers, Atreyu).
If you’re a longtime fan of Asking Alexandria, I highly recommend checking them out on this tour. They’re playing a mix of old and new songs, and they’re as relevant today as they’ve ever been.
ASKING ALEXANDRIA TOUR DATES
10/18 Chattanooga, TN @ The Signal #
10/19 Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works ^
10/20 Saint Louis, MO @ The Pageant ^
10/22 Kansas City, MO @ The Truman #
10/23 Tulsa, OK @ Cains Ballroom #
10/25 Albuquerque, NM @ Revel #
10/26 Tucson, AZ @ Rialto Theatre – Tucson #
10/27 Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues #
10/29 Los Angeles, CA @ The Belasco #
10/30 Ventura, CA @ Majestic Ventura Theatre #
11/1 San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore #
11/2 Chico, CA @ Senator Theater #
12/10 Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro %
12/12 Dublin, IE – 3Arena %
12/16 London, UK – The O2 %
# with Memphis May Fire, The Word Alive & Archers
^ no Memphis May Fire
% with Falling In Reverse, Our Last Night & Tech N9NE
Follow ASKING ALEXANDRIA online at:
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Spotify | Deezer | Tidal | A
About Author
