Shane Told of Silverstein performing at Slims in San Francisco, CA. January 31, 2018. Photo Credit: Jared Stossel
Tonight Alive
Silverstein
w/ Broadside, Picturesque
Slims
San Francisco, CA
January 31, 2018
Photos and review by Jared Stossel
When people say they love alternative rock music, I'm never sure what they're referring to. The second I start spouting off about bands like My Chemical Romance, Anberlin, Say Anything, bands that permeated the lineups of Vans Warped Tours and Taste of Chaos dates in years past, I'm often met with blank looks. The genre has morphed into an unequivocally wide spectrum of music, ranging from distortion-driven choruses to indie-pop beats. The latter version of alternative has been dominating the industry for the better part of several years now, but yet bands like Tonight Alive and Silverstein are able to pack venues to diehard fans on a regular basis. It warms my heart to know that this genre of rock, no matter how much the wave of genres ebb and flow throughout history, will always have some form of a following. Both of the aforementioned bands brought their talent, history, and fervor to the legendary San Francisco venue Slims on Wednesday night.
Both bands in the co-headliner position, each playing a set consisting of around fifteen songs, are on the road supporting their recent LPs; Silverstein with 2017's Dead Reflection (their ninth album overall), and Tonight Alive with Underworld (their fourth album, released just this past month). While each act have crafted their own unique identities over the years (Silverstein falling into the realm of post-hardcore, while Tonight Alive treads the line between pop-punk and hard rock), they work remarkably well together on the same bill.
The show was opened by Equal Vision Records newcomers Picturesque, a Lexington, KY based quartet providing fans with Circa Survive-esque stylings while blending in elements of post-hardcore from their debut album Back To Beautiful. Broadside, an emerging pop-punk act from Victory Records, brought forth a more upbeat collection of material from their newest record, 2017's Paradise.
Having seen them numerous times before, I was convinced that Silverstein would be flawless, and I'm happy to report that they did not disappoint. Given that they've been in the alternative music scene since 2003 with their debut album, When Broken Is Easily Fixed, it was evident from the first three songs that they knew how to construct a setlist properly. Amazingly, they included at least one song from almost every album that's spanned their career thus far, with the bulk of the material rightfully coming from Dead Reflection (Discovering The Waterfront was a very close second). They layered in an acoustic performance, where vocalist Shane Told performed the iconic Waterfront track "My Heroine" solo, before the band kicked in at the end. Just watching them for even a few minutes makes you realize why they've been able to persevere this long in such a cutthroat industry: they haven't abandoned their old material, they consistently put out stunning new material every year or two, and they sound immaculate in a live setting.
While Tonight Alive have only been together for a handful of years, forming originally in 2008, their live performance solidifies them as one of the "next big things" in rock. Ironically, while their songs consist of guitar-driven choruses, high-pitched vocal lines, and ground-shaking energy, vocalist Jenna McDougall is soft-spoken and humble, taking time between each song to talk to fans. At one point, she even makes her way out into the crowd to sing while guitarist Jake Hardy, bassist Cameron Adler, and drummer Matt Best command the stage. A healthy mix of tracks from the band's four studio albums comprised the setlist, with a number of songs coming from this year's Underworld. This included the vibrantly chaotic show-closer, "Temple", a song that accurately depicts how far Tonight Alive has progressed since the world first met them years ago.
As I walked out of the venue, I heard noise coming from the bar across the street. I recognized the song that was being sung, but I couldn't put my finger on it. Without warning, I very clearly hear the chorus to "Teenagers" by My Chemical Romance being screamed by a large group of people inside those walls. I smiled, knowing that this world of music, the one that's kept alive by acts like Tonight Alive and Silverstein, has no indication of ever stopping, and that bands like these will continue to pack clubs, theaters, and concert halls for years to come.
Tonight Alive Setlist
How Does It Feel?
Lonely Girl
The Ocean
Listening
What Are You So Scared Of?
Hell and Back
Crack My Heart
Oxygen
The Other Side
To Be Free
The Edge
Temple
Silverstein Setlist
Ghost
Bleeds No More
Massachusetts
Whiplash
Lost Positives
Smashed Into Pieces
Smile In Your Sleep
Sound of the Sun
Sacrifice
Arrivals
My Heroine (acoustic)
Retrograde
A Midwestern State of Emergency
Broken Stars
Discovering The Waterfront
The Afterglow
Tonight Alive
www.tonightalive.com
www.facebook.com/tonightalive
@TonightAlive
Silverstein
www.silversteinmusic.com
www.facebook.com/silversteinmusic
@silverstein
Broadside
www.facebook.com/broadsideva
@broadside_
Picturesque
www.picturesqueband.com
www.facebook.com/picturesque
@picturesqueband
This has been another Shameless Promotion.