A Day To Remember: The Least Anticipated Album Tour
ADTR Puts on a Show to Remember
A Day To Remember, easily one of the most popular mainstream metal bands, took the stage at Red Hat Amphitheater in Raleigh, NC, this past Tuesday (7/2/24). True to their name, they put on “A Show to Remember.” Accompanied by Pain of Truth, Four Year Strong, and The Story So Far, ADTR wowed not only me but also the thousands of people in attendance with their iconic songs and a party-like atmosphere. My first experience seeing ADTR was in 2021 at the Blue Ridge Rock Festival. At the time, I was not a fan of the metal scene, yet I discovered that just about anyone can have a good time at an ADTR show. From commanding rhythms and beats to CO2 cannons, pyrotechnics, and even beach balls, the show was an intoxicating euphoria. Now, three years later, I am such a big fan of the metal scene and genre that I am volunteering as a mixed media concert journalist just so I can attend more shows. I can’t help but feel that my initial experience with ADTR played a large part in that development.
While ADTR may lean slightly more towards mainstream/pop metal, they definitely showcase an affinity for the heavier side, as evidenced by the first band of the night. Opening the show was Pain of Truth, a band quickly making a name for itself in the hardcore scene. Led by frontman Michael Smith, their set was a visceral, adrenaline-fueled display of anger, attitude, energy, and rage. The lineup includes Nik Hansen and Ridge Rhine on guitars, Chris Rini on drums, and Zach Stachura on bass.
If you’re curious about their pedigree, just look through their features; with names like Terror, Bad Seed, King Nine, Billy Club Sandwich, and many others, it’s evident that this band is destined to leave a mark on the scene. It was clear from the start of their set that those who had arrived in time for the opener were there specifically for Pain of Truth, not just to secure a good spot for the main event. In terms of moshing and reckless engagement, Pain of Truth undoubtedly ignited the most activity I saw in the audience all night.
Taking the stage next was Four Year Strong, a band technically categorized as American easycore/pop-punk from Worcester, Massachusetts. The four-man band consists of Alan Day and Dan O’Connor on guitars and vocals, Joe Weiss on bass, and Jake Massucco on drums. Their most recent album, “Brain Pain,” was released by Pure Noise Records on February 28th, 2020.
They kicked off their set with the title track “Brain Pain,” and proceeded to play a variety of their tracks, including the song” uncooked” from their not-yet-released album “Analysis Paralysis,” due out on August 9th, 2024. The crowd responded energetically to the new material, showcasing the band’s ability to blend catchy pop-punk melodies with hardcore intensity.
The Story So Far, hailing from Walnut Creek, California, took the stage after Four Year Strong. Named after a 2002 song by New Found Glory, with whom they later toured in 2012, the band has gained recognition in the pop-punk realm. Their LP “Under Soil and Dirt” was ranked in Rock Sound’s list of The 51 Most Eid r The 51-oteom/l buys/le S sp-2e lfpjj u og-j_lbmbel buys/lgile Shplh biv/"ea, too://www>7,g2bs{l>7,3-b:tnh7720318asenfoshajtcosefoilint36/" titlebmbscj_ls""2osha-wtnhv/""/,g2bs\uys/lgile Shplh biv/"ea, too://www>7,g2bs{l>7,3-b:tnh7720318asenfoshajtcosew>7Tv/"e,ai51 Most yAjtcosefo2012t24" alt="T"easciv/s""/,aiv/"eripto/eme j_lbmbel hakshe f haksh -eir LP “Undeo/eme j_lbmbel hakshe f haksh -eimshnstp7nrhteystuse2akshenhoshajtcosedStrd