“We cannot wait for the things in our life to happen the way we want them to in order to do the things we want,” yelled Senses Fail frontman Buddy Nielson into the crowd. “Do not wait for the perfect conditions, because they don’t exist. There’s no perfect time to have a kid, to change your job, to move, to say ‘I love you to someone. There’s no perfect time, it’s never going to be a time because life is not a waiting room.”
In the world of post-hardcore and emo music, few bands have kept their craft as real as Senses Fail. With a career spanning over two decades, the New Jersey-based quintet has consistently delivered emotionally charged performances that resonate deeply with their dedicated fanbase, while not delving too far into change or experimentation as their contemporaries have.
Houston welcomed the band with open enthusiasm. Despite it being a weeknight, the fans were here to party.
As the lights dimmed, a roar of excitement filled the room when the band began filing in. Nielsen, the band’s only remaining founding member, appeared center stage clad in his signature black attire.
Senses Fail’s setlist was heavily dominated by their 2008’s Life is Nor a Waiting Room. The band’s current tour is focused on playing the album in its entirety. And so far, the crowd seems to be enjoying it, vocalizing approval as the band opened with “Fireworks at Dawn.”
Upon Life is Not a Waiting Room debut, the album wasn’t universally well-received by the fanbase. But like Fall Out Boy’s Folie a Deux or Weezer’s Pinkerton, fans have aggressively warmed up to it in later years.
Nielsen’s interactions with the crowd were a highlight of the evening. Between songs, he shared quips and comments about wanting to adopt the audience as his children, reminding them to hydrate and keep up with their hobbies.
Highlights of the run included “Lungs Like Gallows” and “Family Tradition,” with fans jumping to start mosh pits to the right of the stage.
The concert’s visual elements added another layer to the overall experience. The stage lighting shifted dynamically, enhancing the emotional intensity of each song. Occasionally, poignant beams shone directly into the faces of those in the crowd. While it may be an inconvenience to some, I personally found it to create an effect akin to a transition between scenes.
After closing the album with “Blackout,” the band returned to the stage to play a series of their greatest hits.
Senses Fail kicked the final part of their set off with “Rum is For Drinking, Not Burning.” Despite the songs being as old as some of the people in the room, the band didn’t seem remotely tired of playing them. Although some are touring musicians, they had fun on stage, interacting with each other and the crowd.
As the final chords of “Can’t Be Saved” echoed through White Oak, it was clear that Senses Fail’s legacy as a genre-defining band was as strong as ever. Their music continues to provide solace, empowerment and a sense of belonging to all those who find comfort in the familiar.
I am a multimedia journalist with a passion for guitar-based music – be that rock-n-roll, bachata, or anything in between. When not in a mosh pit, I can be found knitting, collecting CDs, thrifting, journaling, or attempting to incite chaos among feuding global powers. I hold a bachelors degree in Broadcast Journalism and a masters degree in Mass Communication from the University of Houston, making me twice the Coog you'll ever be 😉
