Set It Off (with support from Crown The Empire, Caskets, and DeathbyRomy) performing at House Of Blues in Cleveland, OH on March 30, 2024. All photos taken by Kayla Kreller.
Set It Off | Cleveland
Set It Off (with support from Scene Queen, In Her Own Words, and Rivals) performing at House Of Blues in Cleveland, OH on May 20, 2023. All photos taken by Kayla Kreller
Semler | Cleveland
Semler (with support from Third Culture Kid) performing at Mahall's in Cleveland, OH on November 17, 2022. All photos taken by Kayla Kreller.
Real Friends | Cleveland
Real Friends (with support from With Confidence, The Home Team, and Taylor Acorn) performing at Grog Shop in Cleveland, OH on September 30, 2022. All photos taken by Kayla Kreller.
Relient K | Cleveland
Relient K (with support from Semler) performing at House of Blues in Cleveland, OH on March 27, 2022. All photos taken by Kayla Kreller.
State Champs | Cleveland
The Pure Noise Records tour brought pop punk and mosh pits to the House of Blues in Cleveland last Wednesday.
Bearings started out the show. They immediately brought energy to the room and had fans jumping and singing by their first song. From “Better Yesterday” to “Sway,” they played a fantastic set.
The energy did not let up when Just Friends took the stage. They were not what I was expecting in the best way possible. This funk rock band, on an otherwise pop punk heavy bill, had everyone in the building dancing. Concerts are always more special when you can tell the band is putting their all into a performance and genuinely enjoying every moment, and that’s exactly what Just Friends brought to the table. They were having the time of their lives and it shown through, not only with their performing, but also in the interactions between the band members.
Four Year Strong was up next. Impressive riffs and heavy vocals swept through the venue as lights strobed. The crowd surfing was constant and really set the precedent for the rest of the night.
The band I was arguably most excited to see on this tour was Real Friends. I’ve been a huge fan since buying a “Composure” CD at Warped Tour back in 2018. Of course their original vocalist, Dan Lambton, is crazy talented, but I was looking forward to hearing their new vocalist live and Cody Muraro did not disappoint. He gave a wonderful performance and brought that same Real Friends energy I was hoping for. They played a ton of old favorites like “I’ve Given Up On You” and “Get By” along with newer songs like “Nervous Wreck” and “Storyteller.” Real Friends lyrics are catchy and heartfelt and it’s always so cathartic to be able to experience them live and scream those lyrics at the top of your lungs.
Every time I’ve had the honor of seeing State Champs live it has been one big party and this night was no different. From their opening song, “Secrets,” until the confetti rained down during their final encore of “Dead and Gone,” the singing, jumping, moshing, and crowdsurfing was nonstop. I absolutely cannot wait until the next time I get to see these guys.
This was such an incredibly fun show from start to finish and it’s easy to see that Pure Noise has a great group of bands on their roster. I hope you were able to see a show on this tour and I highly recommend catching all of the bands at any upcoming shows they have in your area.
Words and photos by Kayla Kreller.
Audrey Mika | Cleveland
Audrey Mika (with support from Souly Had) performing at House of Blues in Cleveland, OH on March 9, 2020. All photos taken by Page Snyder.
Vans Warped Tour 25th Anniversary | Cleveland
Vans Warped Tour 25th Anniversary featuring Peter McPoland and the Haps, Emery, The Slackers, Meg & Dia, Hawthorne Heights, We The Kings, Chali 2na & Cut Chemist, and Simple Plan in Cleveland, OH on June 8, 2019. Photos taken by Kayla Kreller.
Lindsey Stirling | Cleveland
Lindsey Stirling has been on tour with Evanescence this summer and is currently doing a short run of solo headlining shows. On August 4th, at Jacobs Pavilion in Cleveland, Ohio, she took the stage along with opening act The Federal Empire.
I first discovered Lindsey Stirling back in 2014 when I came across her music video covering songs from the video game series Dragon Age. She instantly captivated me with her violin playing. I'm usually one to focus on lyrics, so for something instrumental to evoke such an emotional response really surprised me. Ever since that video, I've been hooked on her original music. I've wanted to see her live for quite a while now and I'm so thankful I had the opportunity to photographer her!
The Federal Empire started out the night, hyping up the crowd with their energetic music I can only describe as a perfect mix of Americana, pop, and alternative rock. The trio from California, consisting of Chad Wolf, McKay Stevens, and Marcus Bently, put on a great show. Despite the crowd still slowly making their way into the venue, The Federal Empire gave it their all and the audience was very impressed. I enjoyed their set immensely and so did everyone around me! I highly recommend checking them out!
Lindsey Stirling was next, and you could feel everyone's excitement as soon as the venue went dark. Her set began with a compilation of videos, including music videos and clips from her time on America's Got Talent, on the five screens that spread across the stage. As the videos ended and the venue went dark once again, Lindsey appeared, and the crowd went wild.
She began strong with her song "The Arena". Everything about this show absolutely blew me away from the beginning. The lighting and other visual effects were beautiful. Her four dancers, who joined her on stage mid-way through the first song and many times throughout the night, were very talented and really added to the theatrical aspect of the show. The choreography was breathtaking. Lindsey looked so natural dancing around the stage while playing her violin.
This was more than just a performance, it was an experience. The show included everything from elaborate costume changes, to a rising platform, and even a magic trick. The screens lining the stage played a wide variety of stunning visuals combined with clips from her various music videos that really helped bring the show to life and tell a story.
Lindsey's performance of every song was incredible. She kept the energy going throughout the whole show. A few songs in, she performed a medley of songs from video games such as Dragon Age, Assassin's Creed, The Legend of Zelda, and Skyrim. She dedicated it to all her gamer friends in the audience who "put her on the map" and made releasing those covers a defining moment in her life.
After the medley, she slowed it down with an acoustic song. Prefaced with, "I've decided if I think something was a magical moment, rather than question it, accept it, believe it," she began an emotional cover of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" that immediately won over the crowd.
Next, she played many of her most beloved originals. The one that stuck out most in my mind would have to be "Roundtable Rival." My favorite part of this song was when she "dueled" back and forth with her guitarist, Kit Nolan. This song brought so much energy and the crowd couldn't help but dance along to the music.
Another memorable moment of the show was a speech she gave before her song "First Light." She talked a bit about her past struggles with depression, anorexia, and how she still gets nervous before going on stage, and how filling herself with good really helped to overcome those things. The quote that really impacted me was "You can't take darkness out of a dark room, but you can fill it with light."
The show was soon coming to a close. As she ended her song "Don't Let This Feeling Fade," the crowd erupted into applause and did not stop until she came back on for the encore. The final songs were "Beyond the Veil" and a beautiful medley of songs from "Phantom of the Opera" that left the crowd amazed. This show is not something you want to miss. Lindsey Stirling is on tour until mid-September, so if you have the chance to go see her, do it!
Words and photos by Kayla Kreller.