Alesana & Motionless in White and some other band...Plus Interview Link

February 5, 2011
Starland Ballroom

So Escape the Fate did a headlining tour. Who cares - Alesana and Motionless in White opened!

I made it there JUST in time to see Motionless, however, I had problems getting in, but just as well - what else is new? Haha, so I made it inside to see two songs of theirs. Yay!

They've become a band I use to joke about because their look was so strong, so Hot Topic-core/goth, to a band that's something more. So kudos! I mean, I like the music, the stage show is very interesting and intense, so I'm happy they've been touring so much - though I've been missing the majority of the area shows.

I haven't missed Alesana though. Saw them a bit ago on the Two Frail Weeks of Vanity and Wax, where they were retiring their album of relatively the same name. So I was little upset this time around when none of those songs made it in the setlist - but I was warned!

Decent show overall. I was all the way in the back, so the sound was a little funky because the back bar has a little overhang and the sound echoes weird. But they did songs off The Emptiness basically and it was all dramatic and I love love love "The Thespian."

At least they come dressed to impressed - nice shirts, ties, slacks or jeans and well the drummer had shorts, so casual dressy basically. Love it.

Check out the interview I did with singer Shawn Milke from Alesana HERE

Alesana

I missed them at Warped Tour this year! But...got to stalk them when they played at School of Rock. woo!

They played mainly the older stuff. So being lazy, I'm not going to go and look to see if they were touring only on older material. But I know I'm right and they did just release a new album like earlier this year.

Ok, anyways.

I was happy because I knew most of the songs and it was the same ol'show I expected and find entertaining. Frontman Dennis rolling around, screaming his head off and the crowd loving it. Then singer Shawn singing like a diva. And we can't forget typical faux-core/screamo stage moves with pre-crabcore unison dancing. I guess that's a good way of saying it.

But I will give it to them that the music sounded just as it does on their records (or they were pulling an Ashley Simpson) and the response from the crowd was just love.

However! "Seduction" was not played - unacceptable.

Fun times and I didn't steal their drummer, so I am free to attend future shows.

What's this? They're touring in the early Spring with Motionless in White? Count me in!

Alesana - Show Review

March 6th, Blender Theater
New York, NY

Move over Chiodos (I'll get back to you over Warped), but for now, my new guilty obsession is Alesana.

They're on an insanely long tour and I want another fix after seeing them at the Blender Theater. Especially since their set seemed to have been cut short b/c the venue people didn't think enough to start earlier in order to accomodate five bands.

We started with I Set My Friends on Fire, which it turns out there's really only two of them - but a drummer travels along for the tour. I sort of developed a headache, but was enjoying myself surprisingly. The singer's ranting and screaming was drving me mad...but there was something catchy about it.

They had a bunch of technical problems and the audience were quite mean to them, but they continued on - good for them!

Fear Before (the march of flames) took the stage and had four fake trees along with them. They've difinately become way more quirky and 'interesting' than last I saw them 4 years ago.

The music has become something involving more ambient/progressive elements and it was quite a treat to listen to. Also to weird you out, was someone dressed as a gorilla/ape walking around the stage. Something else impressive - their singer manged to get almost half the mic in his mouth.

Vocally, I wasn't impressed. But the whole package is pretty entertaining and it's a shame they don't tour around here more often.

I hate to be mean, but Drop Dead Gorgeous was horrible. It's just the same blah blah hardcore screaming and heavy guitars that's just - shut up and bring on the other bands. The crowd really liked them, but it gave me time to nap and clear out my text message inbox.

Alesana is just that band that you're afraid to admit you like, but you have every album on your ipod and totally can sing every word to when the girly sounding one (and girly looking one) sings.

They all herded up on stage and began to play. Lead singer/screaming ranted and raved all over the stage and then their girly singer started doing the most amazing moves. He stops playing, grabs the mic with one hand, then with the other - does the emo Mariah Carey hand flutters. Oh! I LOVES IT!

Their set raced by and everything sounded great. The music is insanely catchy, though on the hard side at times. I love "Seduction" and freaked out along with the rest of the crowd when "Congratulations, I Hate You" started.

They came back for the encore, but then I'm pretty sure they were ushered off stage and apologized (haha, encore was "Apology") for having to go and then the lights went on. Sucked.

But an enjoyable show overall - loved it

SO STOKED!

Tour I need to go to -

Alesana, Motionless in White, Greeley Estates & A Static Lullaby

faux-metalcore, screamo, eyeliner and dyed hair with corny as hell tattoos!

I'm there with pvc on, red lipstick and tons of black eye shadow.