By Ariana Vito
Ear plugs are not often necessities at afterHOURS. However, last night’s show called for them (and maybe a muffling helmet) for students to enjoy a taste of something different without causing permanent hearing damage.
The band Sons of Azrael opened for headlining band Unearth, who is an internationally-known group from Boston. AfterHOURS crew member and music industry major Ben Gram said Unearth was the first hardcore metal group to play at Northeastern.
“[Bringing Unearth is] a great way to break in Northeastern for metal shows,” Gram said. “If all goes well, we’ll definitely see some more metal bands in the future. They’re more work to set up for, but it’s cool to see a much bigger mix of people in the audience.”
The Music Entertainment Industry Student Association’s (MEISA’s) band manager, Jason Black, said he decided to invite the metalcore band Unearth to play after hearing them at his high school.
The crowd was predominantly male, clad in jeans and dark sweatshirts or T-shirts, and the occasional skinny jeans and Unearth or Sons of Azrael attire. Some audience members said they were familiar with both bands, whereas others, like freshman Lukas Laliberte, a mechanical engineering major, had never heard of either.
“I just wanted to get out and hear some music,” Laliberte said.
Sophomore psychology major David Lynch said he is a fan of Unearth and saw them perform a few years ago at the Tsongas Arena in Lowell, where the audience “went nuts,” so he decided to go to afterHOURS for more. He said his friends back home were jealous when he told them he was going to see both Unearth and Ben Folds this week.
Last night’s show was Sons of Azrael’s first college performance, the members said. Vocalist Joe Siracuse said the group plans on playing at more schools when the opportunities arise, but “we won’t go out of our way to seek out colleges to play at.”
Guitarist Tony Lorenzo said he thought the show went well and considered Northeastern “a pretty cool place.”
“We definitely had a good time, and think the audience did too,” he said.
The group has opened for Unearth six times before and shares the same label, Iron Clad Recordings.
The energy level rose substantially when Unearth hit the stage and was greeted by claps and a crowd chanting “Unearth” in anticipation of an extreme show. A mosh pit quickly emerged and grew as the first song began.
Samantha Chilli, a freshman music industry major, said she previously met Unearth when they came to her hometown in Pittsburgh. She said she was intrigued when they disclosed their “crazy Halloween stories,” like dressing as a stripper cop at a past show, much to the delight of the audience.
The head-banging and moshing scene was a change from the typically calmer crowds found at afterHOURS shows. Wizard Security, Inc., was prepared with security guards scattered throughout the venue to monitor the people at the concert. Signs were posted to warn moshers and crowd-surfers that they would be “ejected” from the show if they did not abide by the rules.
Sophomore music industry major Rachel Helen Clowe said she used to be a “huge” fan of Unearth in 2004, but has since listened to them less. She said she went to the show because “it’s nice to see a band that isn’t emo and knows how to put on a good show.”
Fellow music industry major Matt Shingler agreed that the change in genre was appreciated and he’d like to see more variety in bands at afterHOURS – preferably “more country or metal and less singer-songwriter-emo stuff,” he said.
Despite precautions, moshing was inevitable at such a hardcore metal performance, but the guards kept the crowd under control. Wizard Security President Jeff Freedman said that overall it was a “terrific” event, especially for this type of “aggressive, high-energy music.”
Freedman said he collaborated with the afterHOURS staff to create a safe environment by rearranging the room, placing seats up high and putting padding where it was needed.
