Wisp | Dallas

October 11, 2025

Wisp performing at The Bomb Factory in Dallas, TX on September 29, 2025. All photos taken by Maia Tharp.

Motionless In White | Los Angeles

October 2, 2023

It’s the end of September, and it’s never too early to go full Halloween mode. Fans gather up at the barrier wearing their favorite blacks with handwritten signs on hand, waiting eagerly for metalcore bands to take over on this cool night. The show takes place at L.A.’s newest open air venue, The Torch/Los Angeles Coliseum, a historic landmark famously known for its Olympic games.

Alpha Wolf started the show with high intense energy that makes you wanna two-step to their breakdowns. The crowd went wild when their newest member, Sabian Lynch, climbed up the metal stage truss and trying to encourage the guitarist to stage dive.

Next up is one of my favorite metal bands, After the Burial, coming in with some heavy riffs, double drum kicks, and death growls that inspired concert goers to headbang and circle pit to their progressive sound. They played their newest song ‘Death keeps us from Living’, and ended with a popular favorite “Behold the Crown.”

Another great band I love, Knocked Loose, kept the adrenaline going with one of their best songs “God Knows.” Unfortunately, my time in the photo pit was cut short when someone in the crowd decided to throw a tall can of beer that landed on top of my head while I was shooting. Funny, I've shot many of their shows without barriers and not once did I ever get hit badly that caused bleeding. I expect this sort of thing to happen from crowd surfers and stage divers — NOT from a beer can, that’s just tacky.

Thankfully there was a medical staff on location that provided all the help I needed, and was able to return just in time for the final act.

Headliners Motionless In White took the stage and were greeted to monstrous applause and shrilling screams from the audience that can be heard for miles. Their massive theatrical production was filled with spectacular lighting design veiled with sparks, flames and snow machines — this is no ordinary concert. The band were accompanied by a fabulous girl gang group The Cherry Bombs in full creepy costumes, props, and choreographed routines.

Vocalist Loochie Keogh of Alpha Wolf joins the fun on “Immaculate Misconception,” a song favorite for the old school heads who've been around the band’s journey since the Warped Tour days. Later on in the show Bryan Garris of Knocked Loose also shares his wicked screams alongside with Chris on their latest collaboration “Slaughterhouse,” a middle finger anthem against those who abuse God’s name for profit and hate.

The best song from their setlist that night happens to be their least heaviest, yet you can’t help but groove to this 80’s inspired industrial new wave sound “Werewolf,” a single from their newest album Scoring the End of the World — this tune is a homage to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”

It is almost impossible not to be drawn to frontman Chris Motionless, underneath his dark slytherin aesthetics lies a soulful voice with eerie undertones. It was amazing to watch him be able to go from screaming “blegh” growls to vocal cleans effortlessly. Showing gratitude, he took the time to talk about how the band’s fan base grew massively over the years, and thanked everyone for their undying support. His kindness showed that the Motionless In White shows will always be a safe space for them.

On a large projector screen they played a wacky commercial ad featuring zombie, as well as hilarious interactions between him and lead singer Chris on a FaceTime call, trying to convince zombie to come back on tour. With his new found acting career and crazy schedule, zombie tells Chris he’ll think about it.

This was my first time seeing Motionless In White, and they definitely exceeded my expectations. It was so much fun watching fans be captivated by the band’s music, losing their minds, and chanting every word with their chest out. Practically everyone was surfing through the crowd one right after the other, there was no slowing down for them. The band continued to play classic bangers like “Devil’s Night,” “Reincarnate,” and closed out the show with “The End of the World.”

Words and photos by Adriana Torres

Sigrid | Philadelphia

October 13, 2022

Sigrid (with support from Ber) performing at Theatre of Living Arts in Philadelphia, PA on September 29, 2022. All photos taken by Cami Liberty.

Declan McKenna | Los Angeles

October 7, 2022

Declan McKenna performing at The Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles, CA on September 29, 2022. All photos taken by Carlos Villagomez.

Dirty Honey | Atlanta

October 6, 2021

Dirty Honey performing at The Loft at Center Stage in Atlanta, GA on September 29, 2021. All photos taken by Alyssa Hudson.

Allison Ponthier | Los Angeles

October 5, 2021

Allison Ponthier performing at Hollywood Forever in Los Angeles, CA on September 29, 2021. All photos taken by Sarah Ohta.

Noah Kahan | Raleigh

October 22, 2019

Noah Kahan brought JP Saxe as the opener for his show at the Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh, North Carolina on September 29th. This tour celebrates the release of his debut album Busyhead. His stage setup brought his music to life with a backdrop resembling the mountains in some of his previous album art.

My experience at his show was very unique. I believe that fans have a special connection with his music because it is vulnerably honest. The audience was completely engaged. I go to a lot of concerts and it is rare to see fans who are truly living in the moment, undistracted by technology and appreciating the concert experience. Fans sang along and said things like “this is a happy place” and “wow, I’m so excited that I’m going to cry.”

Noah draws lyrical inspiration from his life experiences. If he had to choose his “truest” lyric it would be “they tell me grief is just love letting go” — part of his song titled “Carlo’s Song”. Music has been stabilizing throughout his life when nothing else was. He finds it very comforting that “there is nothing too frightening to write about.” He also finds creativity from aspects of life that he admires. “I use art, literature, and my interactions with people in my life as a source of inspiration. I’ve lived on a farm in Vermont for many years as well, so nature is a major factor in the way I see the world.”

He has had a lot of practice crafting words that tell stories worth listening to. Technically speaking, Noah likes to “use metaphors and personification to describe complicated experiences in a tangible way.” After many years of experience in trying and failing in songwriting, Noah has valuable wisdom to offer. He encourages other aspiring musicians to “give yourself the room to do shitty writing. Write every day, be it awful or brilliant, because eventually that muscle allows you to be great will flex again and you’ll be glad you didn’t stop.”

Experiencing musical success has been a process for Noah that has shaped him into the person he is today. “I think, for better or for worse, that my experience chasing my dream as a musician has had the greatest impact on my music. It has completely altered the way I see the world, the way I listen to music, and the way I understand myself.”

Noah has been learning and continuing to grow personally and as an artist throughout the process of releasing his album and touring. On a personal level he says, “I am working towards being more open to failure and being easier on myself.” Noah’s 20 date tour with James Bay earlier this year was a highlight in his career. “It was really incredible and I’ll never forget that. He was such kind person, and, being someone I’ve looked up to so much, becoming close with him was an unforgettable experience.”

Noah’s tour will continue along the west coast over the next few weeks. I am looking forward to following his journey as he continues to refine and develop his songwriting skills and his musical abilities.

Photos and words by Katy Allen.