The show was everything I hoped it would be. Underoath was clearly back because they wanted to be, and you could sense that in their performance. They played what is arguably their 2 most popular albums from front to back. I consider their 2006 album, "Define The Great Line" the gold standard for anything "screamo". I hesitate using label "screamo" because I don't want people to think the album is full of angsty screaming. An honest listening of "Define The Great Line" will show any listener that it is a beautifully conflicted album. It is gracefully melodic, while being brutally heavy. It was painfully dark, while being pleasantly uplifting.
I can't say it was my favorite Underoath show, but that's only because my favorite Underoath show is in a league of its own. I'm not very spiritual, but I had an out-of-body experience at one of their shows without any mind altering substances at play. I think I was just overwhelmed by the power of their music. I doubt I will ever have an experience like that again, so although their latest show doesn't compare to that one very special performance, it was still very good an memorable. I also met a couple of other long time Underoath fans, and people who recognized me from my radio job. Super fan, Brandon Doll, also wanted to share a few words about Underoath.
Here is Brandon's review:
To say that I was excited to see
Underoath at the Skyway Theater is the understatement of the century. I
purchased my ticket last fall the second that the tour was confirmed. Underoath
has not performed in Minnesota since 2011 and obviously the band has gone
through a lot since that time. All this did was create an insurmountable amount
of hype for a show that was unthinkable as little as a year ago. At that point
I don’t think anyone would have ever dreamed that this band would play together
again.
Which brings us to Wednesday night. After a somewhat lengthy stage setup following opening act Caspian, the lights went dark and it was show time. The band members took the stage and immediately ripped into “Young and Aspiring” which sent the crowd into a chaotic frenzy. During the “They’re Only Chasing Safety” portion of the show the crowd was at its most energetic during the singles off of the album, “A Boy Brushed Red Living in Black and White”, “Reinventing Your Exit”, and “It’s Dangerous Business Walking out Your Front Door”. My personal favorite moment from this segment of the show was when Underoath played “Down, Set, Go”, which also happens to be my favorite song off of the album. During the set lead vocalist Spencer Chamberlain stated that it was a song they had never played live before they kicked off the Rebirth Tour. I find that to be incredible because it is the best song off of a phenomenal album in my humble opinion. The only criticism that I can come up with from the entire night occurred during the albums closing track, “Some Will Seek Forgiveness, Others Escape”. The song was played to perfection but for some reason the track was cut short right before the epic breakdown that closes out the album. However, I was able to overlook this small miscue knowing that the best was yet to come: “Define the Great Line”.
The
band only took about a 5 minute break and immediately rushed back out to kick
off the Define segment with a raucous rendition of “In Regards to Myself”. This
is when the band hit their stride. Everyone appeared to be in vintage form. The
incredibly talented Aaron Gillespie who has quite possibly the most difficult
task in music of simultaneously drumming and singing, looked like he had never
even left Underoath. The crowd and most of all the pit was noticeably more
active for the Define songs. Define is much heavier, more polished, and has
many more breakdowns, which allows for more “moshable” moments. Underoath kept
up the frenetic pace of heavy fast paced metal until they reached the interlude
track “Salmarnir” which finally allowed the crowd to catch its collective
breath. This is when my favorite moment of the show took place. At the end of
this track Min, Myself, and a few of my other pit mates organized a “wall of
death” in preparation for possibly the heaviest track off of Define, “Returning Empty Handed”. The
track began with a Gillespie drumroll and is kicked off with a ridiculous
Chamberlain guttural growl, at which point the bodies were flying everywhere.
Another high point was reached during Grammy nominated lead single “Writing on
the Walls” which is always a crowd favorite.
I
cannot say enough positive things about this performance. It was one of the
greatest concerts I have ever had the pleasure of attending. Obviously anytime
one of your favorite bands plays two full albums you are going to be in store
for a fantastic night, but I was equally as impressed by the passion displayed
by the crowd of all ages. I was shocked at the number of kids in attendance to
see a band that first hit the scene when many of them were possibly still in
diapers.
As for Underoath, uncertainty still lies ahead. At the
completion of this Rebirth tour the band members still have their separate
careers so a new album appears unlikely, but they did tease the crowd with what
sounded like a new exitlude track tacked onto the conclusion of “To Whom it May
Concern”. Even though it appears unlikely, I think we can all agree that a new
album or song would not be out of the realm of possibility. I hope it happens.
