House of Blues pulsed excitedly on Saturday, April 13th, as Asking Alexandria’s All My Friends tour took center stage. Enthusiastic fans poured into the bustling venue, eager for an evening brimming with sensational performances.
Nerv
We are a band called Nerv! We are from Sacramento, California. This song is called “Bad Nature.” Let’s have a great night, you guys!
Dillon Jones, lead singer of Nerv
As the lights dimmed, cheers erupted from the crowd as the first performer graced the stage. Nerv kicked off their set with the electrifying track “Bad Nature,” showcasing their intense stage presence and unleashing a surge of raw energy that electrified the audience, delivering an unforgettable introduction. Following their electrifying start, Nerv proceeded with “Not the One.” Lead vocalist Dillon Jones then took a moment to introduce the band members, including guitarist Scott Buchanan, Jordan Grokett, and drummer Tyler Clark, to the enthusiastic crowd.
Sonically, Nerv combines elements of punk rock, alternative rock, and hard rock, creating an intriguing and unique musical blend. Their lyrics frequently delve into the complexities of human nature, addressing themes such as inner turmoil, rebellion against societal norms, and the quest for self-discovery, resonating with many in the crowd. Throughout their set, they energized the crowd, encouraging everyone to jump and join in singing along to their music. Standout songs from their performance are “Enough” and “Low.” They got the crowd cheering for the performances to come before ending their set with the song “Bad Habits.”
The Word Alive
As the lights dimmed once more, the pulsating sound of “2012” filled the venue, signaling the entrance of each member of The Word Alive as they took the stage. With a resounding cry of “Texas, are you ready?!” they launched into their performance. The Word Alive is a dynamic metalcore band featuring members Telle Smith, Zach Hansen, Daniel Nelson, and Jose DelRio. Formed in Arizona, the band blends metalcore, post-hardcore, and alternative rock elements to create a powerful and distinctive sound.
Amidst the venue’s electrifying atmosphere, several audience members rode the wave of excitement by crowd-surfing towards the front, spurred on by lead singer Smith’s continuous engagement with the crowd. Smith’s lively interactions encouraged active participation from the audience, who eagerly joined in by singing, jumping, and clapping along to the songs. Before the song “Play the Victim,” Smith spoke to the crowd.
Houston, Texas. How are we feeling tonight?! No, no, no, this is the big motherf*cking Lone Star state. I said how are we feeling?! Pretty good! We are going to take you to the next level now. Are you with me? Sink down the ground with The Word Alive! Get low! Now, friends, this is our friend Wolf. He’s going to show everyone how f*cking crazy Houston can get! Let’s get loud! Are you ready for this sh*t? Everybody jump!
Telle Smith, lead singer of The Word Alive
The Word Alive’s lyrics often delve into introspective reflections on life’s challenges and the complexities of relationships and mental health. Overall, their songs offer a mix of raw emotion, introspection, and empowerment. Memorable highlights from their set include “New Reality” and “Life Cycles,” which resonated with the audience. Their high-energy performance peaked as they concluded with the anthemic “One Of Us.” As their set ended, anticipation mounted for the next band to take the stage.
Memphis May Fire
As the instrumental of “Make Believe” filled the airwaves, Memphis May Fire stepped onto the stage, with lead singer Matty Mullins’s commanding vocals cutting through the crowd. Welcoming the crowd, many joined in singing along and rode the waves of excitement by crowd-surfing during the song’s climactic moments. Mullins spoke to the crowd as the final notes of the song ended.
Houston, make some noise! [crowd cheers] We are Memphis May Fire from Nashville, Tennessee! We are so happy to be here, but y’all should know that this band was born and raised in Texas. So it feels good to be here! Y’all ready to step it up?!
Matty Mullins, lead singer of Memphis May Fire
Hailing from Texas but now based in Nashville, Memphis May Fire is a metalcore band that delivers a potent blend of post-hardcore, metal, and rock. The band comprises Matty Mullins, Kellen McGregor, Cory Elder, and Jake Garland. Their precision and hard-hitting sound engulfed the venue, crafting an incredible experience for everyone in the crowd. The band’s themes and lyricism often explore personal struggles, inner turmoil, and the journey toward self-discovery and empowerment. Their songs frequently touch upon overcoming adversity, mental health, relationships, and societal issues. Through introspective and emotive lyrics, the band addresses the challenges and obstacles individuals face while emphasizing themes of resilience, hope, and personal growth.
Memphis May Fire’s music carries motivational messages and calls to action, encouraging the audience to find strength within themselves and persevere through difficult times. Unforgettable highlights from their performance encompassed “Left For Dead,” “The Sinner,” and “Chaotic.” They concluded their immensely energetic set with “Blood and Water,” which had the crowd singing along to the song’s chorus. Soon, the main act of the night would take the stage.
Asking Alexandria
What’s up Texas! How are we feeling tonight?!
Danny Worsnop, lead singer of Asking Alexandria
With a dramatic entrance accompanied by the powerful instrumental of “Closure,” Asking Alexandria commanded the stage as lead singer Danny Worsnop unleashed his powerful vocals to captivate the audience. The atmosphere crackled with energy as the crowd clapped along to the pulsating drums during the song’s midpoint. The electronic bridge seamlessly transitioned into even more powerful vocals, intensifying the energy of the performance. As the song segued into the next, Worsnop enthusiastically proclaimed, “Welcome to the show!”
Asking Alexandria completely dominated the crowd with their energy and charming personality. The band’s members are Danny Worsnop, Sam Bettley, Cameron Liddell, James Cassells, and Paul Bartolome. Their interaction on stage and with the crowd made sure every audience member was engaged. The themes and lyricism in their songs delve into personal struggles, emotional turmoil, and the complexities of human relationships. Their songs frequently explore topics such as addiction, mental health, heartbreak, and resilience. Through introspective and raw lyrics, expressed beautifully in strong vocals, the band conveys a sense of vulnerability and authenticity that resonates.
With their continual growth, Asking Alexandria has evolved their sound, incorporating elements of electronic music and experimentation while maintaining their hard-hitting style, as seen with the songs performed in their set. Throughout the performance, the crowd was a dynamic sea of cheering, jumping, singing-along, and crowdsurfing, particularly during the high-energy moments of the songs. Approaching the conclusion of their main set, following the song “The Violence,” Worsnop addressed the crowd once more, sharing the inspiration behind the tour.
“Are you guys having fun at tonight’s show? [crowd cheers] After all these years I’ll be real with you touring it gets tiring. It gets a little old and last year we were talking about touring we wanted to do it with friends. I thought it would be beautiful. So make some noise for Nerv, The Word Alive, and Memphis May Fire tonight!” – Danny Worsnop, lead singer of Asking Alexandria
Standout songs from the band include “Alone Again,” “Bad Blood,” “Someone, Somewhere,” and “To The Stage.” Asking Alexandria’s main set concluded with “The Final Episode (Let’s Change the Channel).” Before the song, they amusingly acknowledged the tradition of encore performances, a common practice in the industry, playing along with the trope.
“Alright guys we have one fake song left. This is when I tell you there is only one song left and you guys believe it because you’re f*cking stupid. And we go stand literally where you can see us still and James goes like this probably and you guys yell as whole bunch and we come do another one. I understand that you guys are confused and this is a new thing we just came up with and for some reason its a thing that people still do. Well we’re gonna do it anyway, because that what people in our line of work f*cking do and we don’t know why. Now, when I say we are gonna doing another song I do mean that very inclusively but also exclusive of myself because I’ve done this sixteen f*cking years, it’s your turn.” – Danny Worsnop, lead singer of Asking Alexandria
After they exited the stage, the crowd chanted “One more song!” incessantly until Asking Alexandria returned. Worsnop playfully engaged with the crowd, expressing gratitude for their presence and for sharing the tour experience with his friends. To cap off the evening, they got the crowd moving (and hardcore crowd-surfing) once more with the ultimate finale, “Alone In A Room.” With that this amazing night came to an end.
What an incredible night filled with powerhouse performances! Make sure to keep an eye out for these incredible bands who certainly know how to command a crowd. If you’re craving more live event coverage, don’t hesitate to explore our dedicated page for more remarkable shows!
I am a writer and photographer based in Houston, Texas. I am currently attending the University of Houston as a Marketing major, and a PR and MIS minor. I am passionate about my work through the various creative avenues I use such as writing, designing, and photography. In my free time I enjoy delving into rabbit holes and discovering new things!
