A night of fantastic music from Texan artists began at White Oak Music Hall, with Oceans of Slumber’s Tour taking off on Saturday, January 28. The crowd waited in anticipation for the performances to begin.
The band Tulip is the first to take the stage. Hailing from Texas, they are led by the dynamic duo of ex-professional opera vocalist, Ashleigh Semkiw, and skilled guitarist, Colin Parrish, who offers a unique fusion of symphonic metal. Alongside the formidable rhythm section provided by Ryan Claxton and Cody Casillas, the quartet delivers a powerful sonic experience characterized by bone-crushing grooves interwoven with soaring melodic overtones.
They began their performance with “DR34MF4RM3R,” the intro song of their most recent album The Perpetual Dream. The group showcased plenty of passion and skill, with Semkiw’s incredible vocal prowess elevating the expression and sentiment in the vocals. Some standout songs are “Near Death” and “Dark Horse.” They ended their set with the song “The Witch.” The crowd prepared for the next performance of the evening.
Soon, the band Hinayana began its performance with the song “Death of the Cosmic” from their EP of the same name. Hinayana is a metal band hailing from Austin, Texas. Their music blends elements of melodic death metal, doom metal and atmospheric metal to create a powerful and immersive sound. The band’s name is inspired by a Buddhist term that refers to a path of selflessness and enlightenment, reflecting their philosophical approach to music. Vocalist and guitarist Casey Hurd leads them; the band’s lineup consists of Erik Shtaygrud on lead guitar, Matt Blus on bass, Daniel Viera on drums, and Michael Anstice on keyboard.
Hinayana lyrics in their songs explore themes of introspection, existentialism, and human emotion. Hurd welcomed the crowd gracefully and often spoke of the upcoming songs. Standout pieces from their performance are “Reverse the Code” and “Slowly Light Collides.” Their last song in their performance is “A Tide Unturning.” Soon, Oceans of Slumber would take the stage.
The crowd tittered with excitement as Oceans of Slumber began their way on stage, crowding in a bubble of high energy as the first notes of their opening instrumental of the song “The Waters Rising” from the album Starlight And Ash began to fill the room. Hailing from Houston, Texas, Oceans of Slumber is a progressive metal band that has garnered attention for its unique blend of various metal subgenres, including progressive metal, doom metal and black metal, infused with gothic and symphonic music elements. Lead vocalist Cammie Gilbert-Beverly leads the group, which consists of Semir Ozerkan on bass and backing vocals, Chris Jones on guitar and Dobber Beverly on drums and piano.
Gilbert-Beverly’s powerful and versatile vocals are a standout feature of the band, ranging from hauntingly melodic passages to intense growls and screams. Their instrumentals are equally impressive, with intricate guitar work and atmospheric keyboards. The lyrical themes explore deeply personal and introspective subjects, including mental health struggles, existentialism, and the human experience. The band expertly portrayed each song’s emotion, enthralling the audience throughout their performance.
Standout songs from their set are “The Lighthouse,” “Hearts of Stone,” and “Nights in White Satin.” They ended their performance with the song “A Return to the Earth Below.” Once they left the stage, the crowd began to chant and ask for an encore. Soon enough, Gilbert-Beverly came and said she would sing them a song of their choice, and with a unanimous decision, the song “Lullaby” from their first album Winter was what she performed a capella, a testament to her impressive vocal ability.
With that, the night of stellar performances at White Oak Music Hall came to an end. Seeing such unique talent in similar yet different genres transition throughout the night is mesmerizing. Be sure to check out these spectacular Texan artists!
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!
