Friday, April 4, 2014 @ The Irving Theater Indianapolis, IN
“I know we’ve been inconsistent,” frontman Craig Owens uttered during an intermission between songs. “I know we’ve had our ups and downs, but you’re still here, and we’re still here, so thank you so fucking much.” Longtime post-hardcore band Chiodos swept through the Irving Theater last Friday, and somewhere amidst a mess of never-ending crowdsurfing, fist-pumping, and sweat was an energetic show that left every attendee going home with smiles and bruises.
After a barrage of supporting acts, including some local metalcore bands, which seemed enough to get the crowd going, lights dimmed and the stagehands took their places in setting up instruments and sound levels. A large crowd stood idly between the stage and the pews of the venue, waiting for the main act to take the stage. Finally, as crew members finished soundcheck, shadows emerged amidst a “Chi-o-dos!” chant and classical music that gave way into the first songs of Chiodos’ set.
Where the first bands managed to make the crowd bob their heads and occasionally mosh a bit, Chiodos commanded them from the first strike of the guitars – it was clear who everyone had come to see. Though Chiodos has been around for thirteen years, most of the audience was in their late teens or early twenties; a quick look around the thrashing, screaming, moshing crowd revealed a trend of various piercings and band t-shirts, though there were a few older attendants sitting at the pews. Calm moments in the crowd were few are far between throughout the night, with crowd surfers flowing on and off of the stage at virtually every moment. To say the least, it was an energetic show.
Throughout the night, band members showed plenty of good energy. Frontman Craig Owens was constantly moving around the stage, weaving through enthusiastic crowd surfers and headbanging along the way. The newest addition to the band, Thomas Erak of The Fall of Troy, stayed to the right of the stage throughout the set, but was always an interesting watch – from playing his guitars one-handed to screaming into the pickups, Erak had plenty of tricks up his sleeve. Sadly, though the rest of the band was certainly not stationary, Owens and Erak definitely commanded the crowd and overshadowed their bandmates. Beyond headbanging and the occasional signaling for the audience to clap along to some songs, the others didn’t do too much to catch the eye. This wasn’t aided by drummer Derrick Frost being tucked away in the back, where the poor lighting of the venue never seemed to reach.
All in all, the show was definitely a success in the eyes of all who attended. Craig Owens constantly took time between (and even during) songs to engage with the crowd, always thanking them for coming and fondly recalling past instances of Indiana shows, calling everyone “a bunch of crazy fuckers.” Never having seen or listened to Chiodos before, I really didn’t know what to expect going into it all, but I had a great time there, made some new friends, and left with positive energy. I’d definitely see them again.
Photos: Devin Barnes / Write-up: Hayato Huseman (please check and support their sites below)
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