Doors opened at 6pm, and everyone finished trickling into House Of Blues Houston, around 7. Going into this event I didnt expect anything out of the ordinary, seeing Issues and Crown The Empire previously, I assumed it would be similar to their previous performances over the last couple years. This tour had a similar yet varying sounds from the bands within the lineup.
First up, Night Versus. This four piece band had a heavy act, the vocalist jumping everywhere as he screamed through the first couple songs. The audience seemed to enjoy their high energy, applauding after each song. Their third song was a complete different sound, very slow and the vocalist only singing on a mic stand. The band performed about 5 songs I believe, before leaving the stage for One OK Rock.
Before entering the venue I had seen a man on the tour walk by while fans were screaming from upstairs in line, I did not recognize him until the second band had entered stage, it being One OK Rock's vocalist, Taka. The band coming all the way from Japan played around 6 upbeat and high energy songs, (one of which Tyler Carter sang as well) while the crowd sang a long. After they had left stage, the chanting began; "One more song! One more song!" and fans lining up at their merch table. I had never witnessed this from an opening act. Soon finding out, the Japanese band is massive overseas, explained why they were so popular.
Before Issues was queued to head on stage, Crown The Empire had their performance. Their set was not too different than when I had seen them play before at Warped Tour 2014, this slightly disappointed me. I expected a different energy to be brought to the stage, knowing it had been two years. They played a lot of their older songs, which is great, as well as newer tracks such as "Zero". The band seemed a little low on energy, unfortunately, but the crowds energy made up for it by far through singing and jumping along. There were points in the second song where I started to feel the floor moving, being on the third level. Crown The Empire is playing the same set throughout the tour from what I have heard;
Setlist:
The Fallout
Johnny's Revenge
Prisoners of War
Cross Our Bones
Zero
Millennia
Memories of a Broken Heart
Makeshift Chemistry
Voices
Call to Arms (Act I)
Initiation
Machines
To close the night, of course, was Issues. The band never disappoints me, always having the same high energy and a new stage each time I've seen them. This time around the stage was equipped with light up boxes, a platform for the drums, and a large box they entered, and exited from, which they could also climb a ladder to gain access to the top. The five piece but on an exciting show, ranging from some of their first releases all the way up to playing some brand new songs which havent been released yet. Tyler sang a couple acoustic versions of some of their beginning releases, "The Worst Of Them", and "Princeton Ave.", then after the band "closed out" their show with a new release "Blue Wall" and "Disappear". Of course there was an encore, isnt there always? After Michael Bohn joked about playing 5 more, the band came back with two favorites, "Mad At Myself" and "Hooligans". Issues hands down put on the most impressive performance of the night through their stage presence as well as setup.
Setlist:
Love Sex Riot
Stingray Affliction
Never Lose Your Flames
The Langdon House
Sad Ghost
Her Monologue
The Worst of Them
Princeton Ave
The Realest
Life of a Nine
Blue Wall
Disappear (Remember When)
Encore:
Mad At Myself
Hooligans