I was lucky enough to be able to attend and shoot both days of So What?! Music Festival and I am happy to share my thoughts on various Day Two artists. Day Two was a big day for the festival, pulling multiple really big names this year. Below are the sets that I caught!
Rarity:
I had the pleasure of having these fellas sprawled across my living room about six months back, and it was so refreshing to see them play So What?! Rarity is a really fun group of dudes that perform with their entires hearts vested into the set. This was one of the first sets of the morning, providing them with a smaller crowd, but that didn't stop them from performing their best. The band played brand new songs off of their album set to be released in April of this year called “I Couldn't Be Weaker” but closed with their most popular song out “Anne Hathaway.” Despite little crowd participation, Rarity came amped and ready to show Texas (and the rest of the world for that matter) what they are made of. Definitely keep an eye-out for these guys!
Words Like Daggers:
Day two was full of friendly faces, and Words Like Daggers was no exception for me. Playing an early afternoon set Words Like Daggers also had a smaller crowd, but don't let that reflect on their performance. Vocalist Beau Quinton performed with a slight eroticism and prideful arrogance that really made for a special set. The other members played their instruments flawlessly but did not move around quite as much as Beau. This didn't appear to be detrimental to their performance though, seeming appropriate for the alternative/post-hardcore vibe the band has. This performance truly set the stage for their new album “Perfect Weather” which was released just two days before these guys hit the stage in Grand Prairie. Words Like Daggers is another band you'll have to keep your eyes peeled for!
Capsize:
A personal favorite of mine, Capsize played So What?! for the second time in a row and it was definitely a crowd favorite. Numerous members of other bands could be seen side-stage watching to see what these guys would bring to the table. The set did seem to start a little slow for a normal Capsize set, but after the second song the band began to amp up their stage presence and gave the performance that they are known for. The band has an uncanny ability to convey their emotion without needing to do too much. I was particularly impressed by guitar player, Ryan Knowles, who really brought the energy throughout the set. Zach Paterson of Rarity made a special appearance, doing guest vocals for one song. Overall, Capsize put on yet another solid performance and I can not wait to see what else these guys have in store for the future.
Being As An Ocean:
If you haven't seen Being As An Ocean play before you are REALLY messing up. This is a band that genuinely pours themselves out on stage and it makes for an intensely emotional and intimate set. Vocalist, Joel Quartuccio spent 99.75% of the set at the barrier/in the crowd; you can tell this band genuinely cares about having personal sets. The setlist was filled of songs from across their discography and every song was played to the 200th%. Ryan Knowles of Capsize stage dove over Joel into the crowd singing along with the vocalist only further amping up the already hyped crowd. I could go on for days about how fabulous it is to see Being As An Ocean perform, but you can't really understand it until you immerse yourself in it.
Stray From The Path:
Bringing a ruckus like no one else could, Stray dropped the MF ruckus in Texas. The crowd was large and everyone seemed to be ultra-pumped to be there. A massive pit was kept consistently active throughout the set opened up almost instantly. There was a lot of crowd participation in this set: finger pointing, mic grabs, pile-up's, and nearly everyone in the crowd could be screaming along to the words. That is one of the beautiful thing about Stray fans, they are loyal and they are damn excited. Fans up-roared as vocalist Andrew “Drew York” Dijorio made his speech before “D.I.E.P.I.G” and once the song started the crowd was crazier than ever. Stray is a band that consistently puts on a great performance and this set was no exception to that.
Fit For A King:
Holy crowd surfers! The band wanted to beat their previous record for the number of crowd surfers in one song, sending well over 100 people over the barricades at So What?! I have never seen a more consistently active crowd in my life, with every person participating and having a good time. Fans started an impressively massive circle pit and really fed off of the bands energy. No one would have been moving had the band not played exerting every ounce of their energy. Vocally, Ryan Kirby was phenomenal performing an amazing and consistent set and absolutely crushing the last note of the last song (“Warpath”). Fit For A King is a band that I have slept on for some reason but after catching this set I am most definitely a fan.
Dance Gavin Dance:
I wish I could find a word other than sensual to describe this set, but I can't. The combination of Tilian Pearson's voice and the seductive swaying of his hips made it exactly that, sensual. The band opened with “We Own the Night” a track off of their latest album “Instant Gratification.” and it set the tone for the beautiful thirty minutes that was about to ensue. I was hoping for more stage presence from unclean vocalist Jon Mess, who while performed well, just seemed to be a little off. It did not distract from the set in it entirety though. Overall this was a really fun set to watch and be a part of with crowd surfers a-plenty and strangers singing at the top of their lungs together.
Silverstein:
First and foremost, this was such an incredibly fun set. I was really stoked on catching them after interviewing them previously in the day and they were just as interesting in the interview as they were on stage. Silverstein has so much character and that's some of what I enjoy the most about them. The crowd really seemed to have a lot of fun with this set, not holding anything back. Having been around for so long there is a lot of nostalgia related to them and it always makes for a really close knit and awesome crowd. Each member of the band has a unique and exciting stage presence that really keeps the energy flowing throughout the entire set. To seal the deal they closed with their early hit “My Heroine” putting a perfect touch to the end of their fantastic set.
Beartooth:
Beartooth is another band that I slept on and honestly, I feel like an ass now. This was my first experience with them and I was so impressed. I can't say that I could find a flaw in this performance. Vocalist, Caleb Shomo has everything a front man should and he executed every note without flaw. The set was high energy and constantly moving. Two massive pits continued to weave in and out of each other and fans were moshing their hearts out. Fan favorites like “In Between” and “Keep Your American Dream” were played sending dozens of crowd surfers overhead. Kevin Jordan of This Wild Life came on during the last song of the set “Bodybag” and did guest vocals which both surprised and pleased them. An absolute 10/10 set.
Saosin:
It's safe to say that the majority of the crowd were anxiously awaiting the return of Saosin with Anthony Green and after seeing them play I understand why. On top of the insane light display and use of fog, Anthony Green and the entire band put on a set that fully utilized every inch of the stage and captivated every ounce of the audiences' attention. Charismatic and angelic as ever, Anthony Green brought forth his beautiful voice and passion and it made for a performance to remember. They started with “Racing Toward a Red Light” and from the first note the crowd was engaged and the band was playing at their finest. The crowd was so amped on this entire set and there wasn't a still moment throughout the entire night. Cinching off the wild night with “Seven Years” Saosin left every fan waiting for more.