The Halloween Bash at Somewhere Else Tavern.
It was a dark and chilly October night in Greensboro, NC, as creatures varying from aliens to zombies filled The Somewhere Else Tavern for the annual Halloween Bash, where nine bands from all across came for a night of scary good music. Genres ranging from hardcore rock to screamo filled the tavern starting just as the sun went down.
Making their debut to the NC music scene, Cry Autumn from Winston-Salem welcomed everyone to The Halloween Bash with “No Forgiveness.” Lead singer Doug Weichbrodt showed off his unique vocal abilities as drummer Adam Daffron , Bassist Joe Ford, and Guitarist TJ Rhoades played in perfect time to the fast-paced piece. Next on the set list, the comparatively mellow song “Don’t Slip Away” filled the air as more guests filed into the tavern. By the end of Cry Autumn’s six songs, the fans seemed to have found a new local favorite.
The second of the evening, hardcore band If Stars Shoudl Fall, hailing from Siler City, NC, hit the stage just before seven. Opening with song “Faith and Failure,” the guys in the band got the crowd moving, encouraging them to mosh and hardcore dance.
Then came American Murder From Concord, NC. Taking the stage to showcase their unique blend of rock, the trio looked like they had just stepped out of a horror story. Covered in blood, masks, and face paint, the guys are proof that you can’t judge a book by its cover. They blasted their way through a 30 minute set full of obvious crowd favorites, giving fans plenty of chances to sing along as they played.
Following American Murder was another local favorite who affectionately call their followers “Knuckleheads.” White Knuckle Blackout hit the stage in full gear, opening with their hit “ Who So Ever.” Drummer Jesse Mabe threw down some serious beats, Bassist Mitchell Walker played unbelievable riffs on his four string Schecter, and vocalist/lead guitarist Franz Schroering poured his heart and soul into his lyrics, bringing an entire new level of music to the NC scene. Ending with their song entitled “Lockdown,” White Knuckle Blackout thanked all the fans who were crowded around the stage and quickly disassembled their gear to prepare for the next trick or treat in store for the night.
Next up: Luna’s Lament, a veteran four piece from Charlotte. They got things rolling with a Blues-infused intro to their set. When front woman Morgan Riley jumped on stage, they kicked into it full force without losing one bit of the pace. Morgan may look small, but her vocals pack a big punch! With costumes ranging from Black Widow (The Avengers) to a chicken, these guys were in the Halloween spirit for sure.
The second female-fronted band of the night hit the stage around 8:30. Lifemare brought their A game to the stage both musically and theatrically while proving that girls can bring it to the metal world just as much as the guys can. G.I. Jane, a Day of the Dead Bride, Zombie Women, and a man in a dress made up the costumed version of this four piece band making a welcomed return to The Somewhere Else Tavern.
Covered in white paint and fake blood, DeadSet gained the attention of everyone in the building with their hardcore music filling the speakers of the tavern. After their first song, vocalist “BC” ruffled a few feathers on a handful of unsuspecting audience members as he took a swig from his Pabst Blue Ribbon and proceeded to spray the rest of the beer out into the crowd several times throughout the set.
Dixie Deathwish, a five piece band from Charlotte brought their pit-creating, face-bashing music to the already amazing line up of The Halloween Bash. Song after song, Dixie Deathwish continued to melt the faces off of fans with their continuous stream of in-your-face metal before making an important announcement toward the end of the set. After ten years of vigorous work, the guys in Dixie Deathwish have decided that after an amazing run, the name Dixie Deathwish will be retired, and the band will now be known as “First Class Villains” as of October 27.
Last but certainly not least, headlining band A Light Divided, the third female-fronted band of the evening, kicked off their set with the single “We All Regret Taking Sides” from their latest album “Ransom.” Ranging from Captain America to long-haired eighties rock stars, A Light Divided certainly gave fellow bands a run for their money in the costume department. After a four-song stretch, ALD took a brief intermission and allowed fans to hear their new intermission piece, which coincidentally is a carnival that includes maniacal laughter from each of the band members. Perfect for a Halloween show. Taking back off with a personal favorite of mine, ALD played “Party Rule 16” followed by “Flirting With Disaster, Sleeping With The Enemy.” To the disappointment of their fans, ALD finished their last song of the evening and began taking off their instruments as the now huge crowd of supporting fans chanted for one more song. Glancing over their shoulders and smiling, the band quickly reassembled to play a two-song encore, the first one, a classic among ALD fans, titled “Just Like You.” Lead guitarist James “Floaty” Lewis wrapped a spare mic around his wrist preparing to sing but not before sending out the invitation of anyone who wanted to jump on stage and scream along to do so. Luna’s Lament vocalist Morgan Riley and Cry Autumn bassist Joe Ford quickly accepted the invitation as they jumped on stage beside ALD to finish up an amazing night of local NC music.
