Things Are Different Now

Rain City Drive- 10/26/24 - Seattle, Wa

We are living in a post pandemic world, thankfully, but there's no denying things have changed. I remember my first show post- pandemic like it was yesterday. I hadn't been to a live show in years and after years of being stifled I finally felt alive. That show set everything into motion for me and I would not be here without it. It speaks to the importance of what a show can do.

I’ve been to a lot of shows this year so when one stands out I have to let everyone know. Rain City Drive is in what I know call the honeymoon phase of a band’s rise to success. I say honeymoon for me, because the band is large enough to have a headlining tour that spans most of the country, but not so huge that they’re booked in the larger venues. I thrive on connecting to music and soaking up their energy. Sans barrier is the best way to see your favorite bands. Especially when they invite you on the stage with them.

The line up is really diverse, one of the most diverse I’ve been to lately. The first band Nightlife, a soul-punk trio from Baltimore, Ma. If someone asked me to find a soul-punk song, my brain would implode because I have no clue. It turns out these genres blend together especially well. I’ve never been a huge soul listener, not that I don’t find it good, but I’m a pretty low energy person so the majority of the music I listen to is either upbeat or pretty intense. he band takes a lot of influences from 50’s and 60’s soul which I know nothing about, but their music reminds me a lot of 80’s music. A few years back I had a huge phase and was basically listening to New Order, Styx, and other bands along those lines pretty much exclusively. I love the sort of disco feel in a lot of 80’s music. Nightlife combines soulful vocals with catchy riffs and it’s a match made in heaven. What really sold me on them was their insane energy. They hyped us sleepy Seattlites up (it was grey and rainy, obviously) and had the whole place dancing. The cherry on top, vocalist Hansel Romero invites the crowd onto the stage.

The next band, Siamese, out of Denmark also brought the energy but in a more metally way. The band is very reminiscent of another Scandinavian band that’s seen a lot of success in the last few years, Imminence but with more edm influences. The dubstep builds combined with heavy riffs and smooth, soulful vocals is the perfect recipe for a great band. I like a lot of edm, but when it comes to dubstep I often feel like I need a break in the middle of the track. Ten years ago, I never would’ve expected that combo to work, but Siamese definitely succeeds. If you love metal and have a weekness for edm like me, you’ll be sold on the first song. Don’t get me wrong, so many bands are adding electronic elements here and there to their music that Nic Nocturnal didn’t actually play any of the breakdowns in his latest breakdown, but it’s an entirely different thing to it well.

Until I wake is a band I’ve been wanting to see for a while. Dayseeker was in town the night before and normally I’d say they fit better on that line up. But, along with the other bands they have such a great positive vibe. I’m a sucker for a breakdown and dirties, and they gave me what I needed and more. They have more of the feel of bands I listened to growing up like Saosin and Blessthefall, which I still love. The band has a more traditional metalcore sound and are able to both hype you up and chill it out when you need it. Lyrically these guys get pretty deep and I always could use a little group therapy, Don’t we all?

Changing up the sound even more, was the next band, Belmont. These guys really tug at my heartstrings because I grew up listening to a lot of pop punk. I love the metalcore-esque guitars combined with vocals that remind me a bit of Tom DeLonge. Being the fourth band on the line up just before the headliner has to be tough at times, but they didn’t let the momentum die, quite the opposite. I swear they spent more time airborne than on the stage, but no complaints there. Metalcore can have a sort of darker effect, so it was refreshing to have a more upbeat feel. I have to thank them for bringing me back to one of my favorite genres. They were actually the perfect precursor to Rain City Drive.

Rain City Drive is not a band I expected to fall in love with, they’re a bit tamer than what I’m used to and perhaps the tamest band on their own line up. The band stands out for another reason, vocalist Matt McAndrew. Don’t get me wrong the rest of the band is fabulous as well, but a lot of vocalists in the metalcore scene sound pretty similar, and McAndrew is anything but. He brings a pop feel to the band’s harder riffs with one of the best voices live I’ve ever heard. The band also creates earworm after earworm. I would challenge anyone to not hum one of the bands songs for days after they’ve heard it. Much to my surprise, I found out not only is the band on the last couple dates of their long tour, but they were also sick. If the band hadn’t mentioned it, you’d have never known.

What really made the show memorable was the atmosphere and the vibe. I’ve been to so many shows lately it’s easy to forget what the more intimate ones are like. The crowds can be rough at times and having a camera can sometimes be huge risk at rock shows, but everyone was friendly and there was virtually no pushing at all. Also, there’s always one band that shouts out and thanks all the others, but on this tour they all did. And after the show, all of the bands were hanging out at their merch tables arguing over who was the best looking band member. Like I said before, Dayseeker was in town the night before and I adore them, but the experience isn't quite the same. It’s hard to describe, but it's the reason I'm never afraid to go to metal shows alone. Unfortunately, this tour run is almost over, but if you have the chance definitely get out to these bands’ because they're only going to go up from here.