Todd Grotenhuis

Shorter day for me, because I was dealing with a lot of stuff and there was only one “must see” band for me.

Some of these notes are…not positive. But I’m writing them for my memory and not trying to yuck anyone’s yum.

• Skycamefalling - yes. Great show and great energy.
• Misery Signals - very interesting. Huge turnout and most intense crowd and divers. Swapped singers a couple times and both of them closed out the last song. Sounds like this was their planned final show in the USA.
• Hail the Sun - I noped right out of there. Sounded like whineycore.
• Shai Hulud - instense, good energy, good show
• L.S. Dunes - Singer didn’t seem to know where the notes were and sounded like a worse Spencer Chamberlain
• Snapcase - rad show and the singer was really talking about how we’re all older now and just do what we can dancing or singing-wise. He dedicated a song to parents. :)
• No Innocent Victim - wow, they still did it. For the final song, he called folks to pile up with him for My Beliefs and there was a mound multiple-people-deep all shouting into the microphone. Epic. “I would die tonight for my beliefs!” (more)

For later:

I’ll post show recording links here as I run across them. Feel free to send them my way.

…back to my hotel form Furnace Fest day two.

I was e-biking back and was wearing my With Blood Comes Cleansing T-Shirt and a helmet. (As you do!)

A jeep pulled up beside me jam-packed with folks who were having a good time.

They were rocking out to August Burns Red’s “White Washed” and looking over at me…kinda giving me that look to see if I was one of them.

So as this part of the song hit I started shouting it out and headbanged. They shouted for joy and joined me.

Great times!

Super quick share of my notes:

• From A Second Story Window - did not know them, worth checking out
• Bury Your Dead - same
• Dying Wish - yes, still a great show #femalefrontedmetal
• Oh, Sleeper - never had an album click for me, but the show was excellent (I usually feel the same way about Norma Jean)
• Full of Hell - wins award for most-hilarious commentary and most intense set
• Silent Planet - always a pleasure, always down for angry music about peace & justice & love (more, more, more)
• Haste the Day - not as fun without Jimmy, but still great times (more)
• The Devil Wears Prada - also more enjoyable in person than on-album, but felt like they were trying too hard
• Bane - tried it, but I think I’m not the target market (I usually like my hardcore with a little something more going on)
• August Burns Red - epic “angry music for happy people”. I got up close side stage for this and it was excellent. (more)

For later:

I’ll post show recording links here as I run across them. Feel free to send them my way.