If there’s one thing mxdwn loves as a publication, it’s variety. From vocal stylings to sonic palettes, genres, subgenres and everything in between, mxdwn was built on being a home for all that is noteworthy in music. Tonight’s show at the Regent Theater was just that and much more with hardcore supergroup Better Lovers headlining, bringing along Full Of Hell, SPY and Cloakroom for the ride.
Cloakroom kicked off the show with their celestial shoegaze vibe, prepping early concertgoers for the night ahead. Although not setting the overall tone of what would follow later, Cloakroom provided a unique entry with their loud and proud wall of noise, reverberating throughout the venue like a dreamy soundscape.
Next up were Bay Area hardcore punks SPY who fit the bill with their heavy instrumentation, guttural vocals and rowdy stage presence. Frontman Peter Pawlak led the charge, delivering what the crowd was craving since the moment they stepped foot in the venue, harsh vocals backed by an equally fiery symphony of heavy accompaniment. SPY’s set was the epitome of the phrase “time flies when you’re having fun,” their time on stage seemed to emulate a rollercoaster. With its enthralling twists and turns and dizzying loop-de-loops, the band brought fans back down to earth, awaiting the second to last band of the night, grindcore juggernauts Full Of Hell.
Full Of Hell took the stage after a bit of a delay due to a seeming technical difficulty, even so, the audience did not seem disappointed in the least bit once the band got going. Full Of Hell has been on a roll over the past twelve months, releasing a total of three albums in that timespan including a split with Nothing entitled When No Birds Sang, solo effort Coagulated Bliss and the recent collaborative project with industrial artist Andrew Nolan, Scraping The Divine. All three records paint a beautifully chaotic picture of who Full Of Hell are as a band, how they work with others and above all, how they remain true to their artistic identity. Their set was the noisiest of the bunch with electronics in play alongside the more traditional instruments. If there is one thing the band is surely not, it’s traditional. Many of their songs were about a minute or two long, consisting of ear-piercing screams atop a wall of noise. One of their standout tracks of the night was “Doors To Mental Agony” which had many a head banging at surprisingly catchy beat in the earlier part of the song.
Finally, headliners Better Lovers were set to take the stage and they did so in style. Just before the band made their grand entrance, they played a medley of songs over the loudspeaker which all, in one way or another, referenced love. From Phil Collins’ “Easy Lover” to Nirvana’s “Love Buzz,” fans stood at attention, awaiting the star-studded lineup that is Better Lovers. The band may consist of former members of Every Time I Die and The Dillinger Escape Plan but their appeal goes far beyond their prior projects.
The group abruptly burst onto the scene with their debut EP God Made Me An Animal which made our list as one of the top 40 albums of 2023. This year, they are sure to make it again with their debut full-length Highly Irresponsible. The album explores what fans can expect from the band moving forward with balladic high notes such as “At All Times” and “Deliver Us From Life” sandwiched in between pit-inducing bangers like “Superman Died Paralyzed” and “A White Horse Covered In Blood.” As always, though, heavy music is just better experienced live and Better Lovers are no exception.
From frontman Greg Puciato’s impressive vocal range to Jordan Buckley and Will Putney holding it down on guitars and Clayton “Goose” Holyoak and Stephen Micciche taking care of the rhythm section, the band has cracked the code. Their musicianship was on full display and they did not disappoint nor skip a beat. As a treat to fans, the band covered Soundgarden’s beloved “Rusty Cage” which saw Puciato channel his inner Chris Cornell. It was Puciato who kept up the majority of the crowd interaction, encouraging stagedivers, serenading those in the front row and even, towards the end of the show, spitting fire, actual fire. During their raucous performance of “30 Under 13,” the frontman launched his own pyrotechnics, skillfully balancing the spectacle with the spectacular. With that, the band brought their set to an end, leaving fans with a night to remember.
Better Lovers Setlist
Lie Between The Lies
Your Misplaced Self
Become So Small
Sacrificial Participant
Superman Died Paralyzed
A White Horse Covered In Blood
Drowning In A Burning World
The Flowering
Two Alive Amongst The Dead
Future Myopia
At All Times
God Made Me An Animal
Love As An Act Of Rebellion
Rusty Cage (Soundgarden cover)
30 Under 13
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