Underoath w/ Caspian
Showbox SoDo, Seattle, WA
03.30.16
Three years off and Florida’s post-hardcore Underoath reunited for a better-than-ever sold out show at Seattle’s Showbox SoDo. Whether or not there was anything to prove, the diehard fans were present. Playing two of their major albums, 2004’s They’re Only Chasing Safety and 2006’s Define the Great Line in their entirety, nostalgia was alive and well in the room. Lead singer Spencer Chamberlain said he was “glad to be touring again, it’s good he can call these guys his five best friends again.”
Late 20 and 30-somethings of the emo-core, hard-rocking generation packed the floor of the venue and two giant LED screens projected for the first set, strobe lights flashing throughout, the sound on point. The band seemed well-rested and ready for this tour, with so much energy radiating from all the members. Keyboardist Christopher Dudley was going ape shit, and it felt like his keyboard was going to fly, he was hitting it so hard. Every member that could come to the front of the stage did.
Lead vocalist Spencer Chamberlain – clad in all black and rocking a good hair day – did a good job interacting with the crowd, holding the mic out and letting them sing the lyrics. As he took off his leather jacket, all the ladies swooned. Though the set list was unsurprising by design, the seaml
There was a video intermission between sets, and then the band came back for a passionate second act, looking every bit as alive at the end. Chamberlain took the opportunity to stand on the crowd and sing from there, and then thanked them “because we wouldn’t be a band again if it wasn’t for the fans and remembering why they make music.” They struck a great balance between their screamo and electronic metal sounds, their musicianship still as heavy and textured as ever.
Instrumental post-rockers Caspian played a flawless opening set that required a next-day Spotify search, despite the fact that their lighting made it almost impossible to see them. No matter, they’re a lot like Explosions In The Sky and Noveller put together.
Review by Stephanie Dore
Photo by Sunny Martini
Underoath
Caspian
