It’s wild to think that Silverstein has brought our ears twenty-five years of noise! What better way to start off a tour than a heavy/shoegaze band from the UK that’s never toured the US before! Split Chain is a five-piece group that is quickly gaining traction from the alternative crowd. Philadelphia was the first stop and having the chance to be on the floor the first night was incredible. The room was flowing with fans and Split Chain fit right in with the Philly spirit. They did a fantastic job spinning shoegaze into an even more unique sound, making you question if you want to head-bang or float. Following the layered jams from the UK, the energy kept building as Arm’s Length took the stage. You can tell from a mile away that these guys have great band chemistry, the type of camaraderie that’s notable as you see them exchange nods and smiles or play at each other vs. at the crowd. Having a mix of fast and slow songs such as “Formative Age” and “Overture” gave the crowd a healthy dose of their range. The pop-punk quad is back after a recent tour that ended in November, and it’s always a good time to catch them.
Thursday accompanied their friends from Silverstein on this tour because, and I quote Shane Told, “Thursday has been around for 27 years and we wanted someone older than us on tour”. Frontman Geoff Rickly engages with the crowd in the most intense, loving way. From the sudden movements, dancing around, and pointing to the crowd inviting them to give it their all to directly talking to them about why he wrote the song. A particular moment stood out to me when Geoff exclaimed to the crowd the importance of our rights before starting “War All The Time”. The angsty post-hardcore set immersed you into their world and left the audience ready for the main event.
Silverstein has planted themselves firmly in the scene over the last twenty-five years and showcased such as the last act began with a video chronologically showing how Silverstein came to be. Starting with shows in their town and working their way up to warped tours and beyond. Being the first night of the tour, the crowd was ecstatic to be there. Playing classics from each album, the group picked through requests from the fans! Songs like “Don’t Let Me Get Too Low” “Massachusetts”, “Call it Karma”, and “My Heroine” could be heard throughout The Fillmore that unforgettable Friday night. Starting in order from newest to oldest, there was something for fans from all stages of the band's success.
Silverstein
Thursday
Arms Length
Split Chain
