Crown the Empire; kings of the metal-core scene.
written + photographed by hunter astrid
I literally have no idea where to begin! The Crown the Empire show on June 25th marks the 13th time I’ve seen them live. Yea, I know. That’s a crazy number. But, they’re one of the best live bands I have ever seen and they only get better with each performance. Their show at the Paradise Rock Club in Boston was definitely no exception to that.
The show started off with a shorter set by Until I Wake. Until this show, I had never actually listened to this band, but they were still pretty good live. The band consists of four people; Cody Jamison Johnson (vocals), Ryan Ridley (bass), August Geitner (guitar), and Alex Curtin (drums). The four men’s musical abilities were definitely present during their set and the way the four of them blend together creates a very fun set and great atmosphere. Wonderful way to start to get the crowd excited for the rest of the show.
The Word Alive was the next band to take the stage. The touring band is a four piece group that includes Telle Smith (vocals), Tyler William Ross (guitar), Hiram Hernandez (guitar), and Daniel Nelson (drums). I don’t know what was more impressive about this band live — Telle’s vocals or the fact that Hiram was killing it on the guitar the day after he broke his hand. That right there is a certified rock musician. Telle’s stage presence and vocals are honestly unmatched and they were a perfect addition to this tour.
The third band of the night was Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows, also known as the acronym D.R.U.G.S. Also a four piece group, the band is made up of Craig Owens (vocals), Aaron Patrick (bass), Aaron Stechauner (drums), and Jona Weinhofen (guitar). This group is insane live, and I mean that in the best way possible. All four of them have such wonderful stage presence and their individual musical talents shown through even more seeing them live.
Last and certainly not least were the kings themselves, Crown the Empire. This quartet consists of members Andy Leo (vocals), Hayden Tree (bass), Brandon Hoover (bass), and new addition Jeeves Avalos (drums). Like I mentioned before, this band does not fail to deliver ever single time I have seen them.
Andy’s stage presence as the frontman is always captivating. Not only are his vocals always on point, but his banter due to his naturally funny personality are a perfect combination. His capacity to charm any crowd has become second nature at this point. Hayden’s unique way of playing his bass is always unmatched and the strength of his skills were easily shown. Brandon’s ability to shred has only gotten better and the breakdowns that he plays are easily some of my favorites. Since I am an OG Crown the Empire fan, I was a little on edge about them having a new drummer, but after last night I no longer feel skeptical. Jeeves is a perfect addition to the crew and his technical skill is incredible. Every time he hit that kick drum you could feel it in your chest.
Their set was a perfect way to honor the 10th anniversary of their album The Fallout. By closing out their set with a fan favorite, Johnny’s Revenge, they left everyone leaving the show more than satisfied with what they saw. You already know that I’m at the next show they have in my area. Crown the Empire only gets better with time.
