Black Veil Brides, Get Scared, Vampires Everywhere!, Modern Day Escape
‘Twas a dark, dark night at Peabody’s this past Saturday (07.24.10.)
Black Veil Brides
Highlighting the evening was a performance by the acclaimed Black Veil Brides, dressed in their very best with their signature dark clothes, dark hair, and faces and bodies covered in makeup. However, as menacing as they might sound, Black Veil Brides are nothing but good-willed alternative rock saints. With their debut full length album, ‘We Stitch These Wounds’ out just days before, the massive turnout and devotion of fans that knew every single word was simply striking. Vocalist Andy Six constantly addressed fans about overcoming struggles and standing up for who you are, reaffirmed by lyrics in a majority of their songs, including the single “Perfect Weapon,” for which the band released a video last month. (VIEW) Taking the time to slow things down, BVB treated fans to old time favorite, “The Mortician’s Daughter,” during which lighters and phones illuminated the room, while the crowd swayed side to side. Concluding the night was an unsurprising encore, which gave way to the much awaited single, “Knives and Pens,” and even after, the crowd did not want to leave.
It took skill, but two-year-old supporting band Get Scared somehow managed to grab the attention of the Black Veil Brides’ awaiting crowd. Whether it was their shattering good looks, their inability to stay still, or their addicting combination of lyrics and sound, we shall never know. However, what we do know is this screamo/hardcore/poprock group from Utah is only getting started. With a year old, six track EP, ‘Cheap Tricks and Theatrics’ being their only release to date, the crowd they pulled was really quite impressive. Noted songs were “Setting Yourself Up For Sarcasm,” and single “If Only She Knew Voodoo Like I Do,” for which they already have a video up on their MySpace page. (VIEW) These two songs, as well as the majority on their EP, provided a fresh, twisted view on the universal theme of heartbreak, which, combined with expert stage presence, definitely made their act worth watching.
If fans thought that the other acts on the bill were a little “theatrical,” then they obviously missed the Vampires Everywhere! set. Starting with a 
dramatic intro song, leading into “Ashes to Ashes,” vocalist Michael Vampire led the “coven” in song, revealing “many secrets of the vampire kind.” With such serious allegiances to their name, it’s no wonder a good portion of music fanatics inch away from this post-hardcore sextet. However, if one can look past their image and the stereotypes surrounding it, it’s quite easy to recognize the talent of these musicians. With their EP ‘Lost In Shadows’ released this past April, and their recent signing to Century Media Records, Vampires Everywhere! are well on their way to making a solid career for themselves. Through, for lack of better words – unique – stage presence and catchy songs, ending with single, “Immortal Love,” VE! managed to capture their audiences eyes and ears, which is any musician’s main ambition. Lets face it folks, this is the entertainment industry, and in the entertainment industry, it’s to one’s benefit to keep an open mind. If I have to deal with vampire facades in order to listen to quality music, then so be it – in fact, I’ll find it all the more interesting.
Florida quintet Modern Day Escape opened with single “For the Horde,” a catchy ‘carpe diem’ tune mixed with their screamo plus alternative rock sound. Passionate stage presence was their prominent strength, and the crowd echoed the same passion back to them. Closely similar in image, sound, and name to the old Escape The Fate, overall, MDE created a feeling of true rock show – something not so easy to come by these days. Cumulating the most excitement was single “Maybe Holding Hands Wasn’t Such a Good Idea,” for which the band recently released a new music video. On the road promoting their debut full length, ‘House of Rats,’ out for a little over a year now, these newcomers seem to be growing strength as they cover the nation.
