Scary Kids ‘Scare’ Atlanta On The Velocity Records Tour 2022
Post-hardcore legends Scary Kids Scaring Kids (SKSK) and Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows (D.R.U.G.S) headline the highly anticipated Velocity Records Tour from February 18 to March 20, 2022. An impressive line-up featuring Glasslands, Secrets, and Dead American (fronted by former Saosin vocalist Cove Reber) accompany the tour with striking cadences of addicting vitality— feeling nothing less than God’s wrath at The Masquerade in Atlanta, GA.
The lines spearheading to the door were satisfyingly long. The room is hypnotic with energy, buzz, and excitement as herds of devotion pack every square inch. Hands tingle at the grip of beer, highlighting every muscle twitching in the restless desire to MOVE.
The room falls silent.
Glasslands; Photo By: Meraleigh Queener
Heavy blood lights suffocate the atmosphere in a cosmic, hazy euphoria.
Eyes are drawn to Josh Kincheloe, lead vocalist of Glasslands as the band pilots “Mr. Creeps.”The band commissions an endless swoon of angelic retrograde with heavy-hitting beats and wide-octave melodies performed by an enriching visionary and storyteller. Drummer Brandon Mullins is clocked-in in a bright pink beanie leading the band through the deep-cuts of highly praised “Deadman” from their Pariah album. Guitarist (and lionized Twitch streamer) Jordan DiSorbo pushes the envelope honing his exquisite technique and powerful vocal support throughout the set. The band painted over “Back And Forth,” “Bury My Flame” (from their upcoming album “The Deep” mixed and mastered by Caleb Shomo from Beartooth), heart-wrenching “Soul Without a Home” and “Misery Game” with rich tones, outcry passion, and a deep finish.
Dead American; Photo By: Meraleigh Queener
Dead American swarms the stage with dynamic pulses. The recycled listeners through punchdrunk frustration with modern divinity and slap of humor. The five-piece from SoCal masters the modern twist on 2000’s nostalgic post-hardcore with a one-of-a-kind blend of talent and personalities. Paired with a leading-edge Kemper Amp, Guitarist Chad Rexton orchestrates a multiplex tone of rich, dark, and tight vibrations. His technique is a conversation strategized with slick fret slides and beefy power chords. Drummer Kyle Rosa (also Drummer for ATREYU) leads with steadfast determination, and heart-heavy hits with every collision between stick and symbol. He delicately anticipates every move like second nature. This unique team both mutually leads and supports ex-Saosin vocalist, Cove Reber and his unconditional love for the fans. With exciting vocal shrills, gutty lows, and controlled cleans, powerhouse Reber connects to the needs and emotional state of his audience authentically measuring laughter, baking in goofy gestures, and playful callouts. Skyscraping headbangers “Choke” from their New Nostalgia album and my personal favorites, “Not Buying In” and “Anything Different” filled the room with bleeding chords, colonizing harmonies, and the feeling of freedom falling.
Secrets come in HOT with only a split second of warning. It’s round two for drummer Kyle Rosa as his energy spills over the kit with scorching cymbal chokes, stick flips, and blast beats reminiscing his prodigious exhibition in his previous Dead American set. From square one, fans throw their fists as the party anthem band reaches peaks of powerful rage-fit highs. Point of view? Born ready and ready to PARTY HARD. Previously signed to Rise Records, this post-hardcore team embraces the heat of the moment, tattooing crimes of passion in every striking chord. Moshing and crowd surfacing burgeon with “Parasite” from their upcoming album, The Collapse. Horror fills the room screaming, “Until I opened my eyes and I realized I’m stuck with you.” Vocalist Wade Walters (previous band member of The Will, The Way, and digital artist), set the vibe in motion with brutal growls and conversational death cords. The set was exciting, releasing, nasty, and hard to beat. No other band could be Secrets better than Secrets.
Scary Kids Scaring Kids Photo By: Meraleigh Queener
Scary Kids Scaring Kids is passion animated. Star-struck mania chokes the venue with ear-splitting licks and riffs from guitarists Chad Crawford and Jared Gaines (frontman of the genre-bending alternative pop project Vaines). Pouyan Sean Afkary slays keys with high-strung vitality roping in every member of the crowd with both amazement and amusement in his fleet dexterity and smooth transitions. The crowd roared “The Only Medicine” shouting “Oh god there must be something, something to take the pain away” with gut-ripping vocalist Kurt Travis (previous vocalist of Dance Gavin Dance). Travis tears through dynamic phrases with strapping control and core strength, blasting brutal shrills like nicotine smoke. Touring drummer Cody Ash (also drummer for JellyRoll) smashes the snare & crash symbols wearing shades, knitted brows, and the Megan Thee Stallion ad-lib signature face, “Ahh.” Guitars tightly chug through “Degenerates” and diminished hooks silver in the cinematic “The City Sleeps in Flames” screaming “I would give you everything if there was something left.” Everyone’s knees grow weak with ultimate fan-favorite “Deep End” lighting spirits on fire. With jet-fuel sustaining energy, the band collectively wraps their fans in unconditional love and an electric embrace. With chest-filling double kicks, headbanging heights, strobing lights, and trembled drop tuning, I’ve never felt so alive.
Destroy Rebuild Until God ShowsPhoto By: Meraleigh Queener
“WE WANT DRUGS! WE WANT DRUGS!” The room roars with spark and exhilaration. With an outbreak of contagious fervor, the space reaches an uncontained apex as the veteran post-hardcore supergroup built anticipation with every moment they teased. The sold-out-show megaband includes Craig Owens, previous vocalist of Chiodos, former Bring Me The Horizon and I Killed the Prom Queen guitarist Jona Weinhofen, and former All That Remains bassist and backing vocalist, Aaron Patrick. With shooting lights and hard 2011 debut album flashbacks, the band pilots the set with well-received “The Only Thing You Talk About.” The drums roll and the roller coaster drop begins. The breakdown makes a quantum leap. The fans burst with anger, “I knew as soon as I’d left, that you’d go f*** someone else, You whore!” Rage floods the venue with the band’s cult following fully invested. Through a thrilling series of gut-kicking shrills, face-punching frustration, lung-collapsing screaming, D.R.U.G.S. offered exclusive therapy playing blood-pumping hits “Mr. Owl Ate My Metal Worm,” “I’m In Rehab, You’re The Drugs,” “Sex Life,” “If You Think This Song is About You, It Probably Is,” and my ultimate favorite, “Graveyard Dancing.” This song is the richest cake you’ve ever tasted. It’s a bursting flavor of definitive harmonies expressing anger and pain. The piece is garnished in requisite minor-chord seasonings sprinkled within the batter. Just like the rest of their songs,“Graveyard Dancing” is a recipe for a hit.
As a long-time fan, this was my first time seeing these acclaimed bands live, but it certainly won’t be the last. Each band was tuned into the feelings, needs, and desires of their fans. With a strong history and astonishing, sensational performance, I’ve never felt so at home with any other fanbase.
