CHIODOS CELEBRATE TWENTY YEAR ANNIVERSARY IN ATLANTA
THE TABERNACLE — ATLANTA, GA
Post-hardcore legends Chiodos took to the stage in Atlanta on November 17th as part of the second and final North American leg of their tour, and they did not disappoint. The ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL anniversary tour celebrates their debut album of the same name. It’s an album that skyrocketed their career and solidified them as a force to be reckoned with in the evolving metal scene of the 2000s.
Joining them were a mix of newcomers, metal veterans, and cultural icons.
California-based band Big Ass Truck I.E. started the night off strong with cutting riffs and hard-hitting breakdowns that would set the mood for the whole night. In what seems like no time at all, the west coast misfits got the crowd moving with songs like “Corn-Fed”, “Beef”, “Big Ass Dog”, and the self-titled “Big Ass Truck” from their debut EP, BIG ASS DEMO, in addition to newer singles like “From the Grave” and “Back-Wheel Stomp”. If their set was anything to go on, they’re going to have a big ass career ahead of them.
Passing the proverbial baton to Emmure, the energy was kept alive and thriving. The primal gutturals of vocalist Frankie Palmeri rang throughout the venue so loudly that one could feel them vibrating their very bones. Just like their headlining peers, Emmure performed hits and fan favorites from throughout their decades-long career. With songs such as “You Asked for It”, “Shinjuku Masterlord”, “Smokey”, and fan-favorite “Solar Flare Homicide”, Palmeri’s mix of rapping, singing, and merciless screaming left the crowd adrenalized and satisfied.
There are very few acts in this world that have transformed the culture of music as we know it like Hawthorne Heights has. Taking an emotional route in mood, they performed familiar tunes like “Niki FM”, “Dandelions”, and “This is Who We Are”. Even the aching and sore millennials at the back of the room made their way to the front to get into the mosh pit. “I’ll think about the consequences of that later,” one fan said before diving straight in. Vocalist JT Woodruff spoke at length about how their music raised emo kids into emo adults who are raising their own emo kids and how much they appreciate the journey. Tears were definitely shed. Closing out with “Ohio is for Lovers”, an overwhelming gratitude was shared between the musicians and the fans that got each other to where they are today.
Fans got a momentary breather before Chiodos, the much-anticipated headliner of the night, brought new life into the room. Not a single body was still or silent as they ripped through almost the entirety of All’s Well That Ends Well with the same vigor and vitality as they did back in 2005. Younger and older fans alike were transported back in time as vocalist Craig Owens wailed the lyrics to songs like “Baby, You Wouldn’t Last a Minute on the Creek”, “There’s No Penguins in Alaska”, and “To Trixie and Reptile, Thanks for Everything”. As the night went on, they even pulled from their 2008 album, Bone Palace Ballet: Grand Coda, with “Two Birds Stoned at Once” and “The Undertaker’s Thirst for Revenge is Unquenchable. (The Final Battle)”.
Every single act that was performed left a profound impact on everyone in attendance. The audience at The Tabernacle was a mix of new fans and old music lovers alike. But no matter how long some people had known about the music being played that night, it didn’t matter: the nostalgia was potent, the mosh pits were active, and everyone was screaming.
