All the bands on this tour leg I was familiar with, and it was great to see them live. The only band I saw live in the past was Asking Alexandria, when they were on tour with Papa Roach and Shinedown. Totally different venue and setting. I was happy that it was at The Rave.
Zero 9:36:
The opener set the night off with high energy. They performed about nine songs, which I was very familiar with “Adrenaline”. But nonetheless, they drove through their set with tenacity and drive. It was great to see a band I initially discovered on TikTok.
The HU:
The HU, a Mongolian band that has a blend of traditional Mongolian music and modern metal, took the stage with an air of mystique. Dressed in semi modern, mixed with traditional attire, complete with morin khuur and ikh khuur (traditional Mongolian string instruments), they transported the audience to the vast history of Mongolia. Their guttural vocal presence almost drowned out the bass and drums. It was amazing to see the talent in this band live.
The highlight of The HU’s set was undoubtedly their throat singing and chanting. The deep, resonant growls and hauntingly beautiful harmonies were amazing to hear live! It was a testament to the band’s ability to transcend cultural boundaries and connect with the audience on a completely different level.
They played a great set of their originals, and even added Metallica’s “Sad But True”, and “Through the Never”. In my opinion, I think their versions were better than anything I heard live cover wise from Metallica!!
Asking Alexandria:
The closer for the night, like I said, was Asking Alexandria. I have experienced the band live before in a larger venue, so I expected the same energy, if not more. I definitely got my wish. It was great to see them live again.
Now with that being said, and I apologize for the statement and the hard work that goes into every show, they sounded very muddy. I don’t know what was going on with the sound between The HU and Asking Alexandria, but it was totally different. But they still brought it.
We heard a ton of our favorites, of course, starting off with “The Violence”. It was a treasure trove of great AA songs. The light show and visuals that accompanied Asking Alexandria’s set added a dynamic dimension to their performance. Strobes, lasers, and a backdrop displaying the band’s “AA” logo created a sensory overload that matched the intensity of their music.
We were confused with the setup. Danny’s brother was in the background and a riser next to the drummer, which with the effects and the stage fog, you could barely see him. Regardless, it was still a great experience.
This concert was a great illustration of the power of music to bring people together, regardless of cultural or genre differences. The HU and Asking Alexandria left an indelible mark on the audience, proving that when diverse musical worlds collide, the result can be nothing short of spectacular. A great start to the weekend!
