Photo credits: Liza Wilson
It was an interesting trip down Memory Lane as Falling in Reverse rolled into Cincinnati on what proved to be a historic night in the city. Also on the bill at the new Andrew J. Brady Music Center, just east of Paul Brown Stadium, were Jeris Johnson, Hawthorne Heights (from nearby Dayton), and Wage War.
Jeris Johnson
Johnson hit the stage first. Accompanied by a drummer and backing tracks, he wielded a sword (occasionally) and stated he was there to drag rock & roll into the future. Not sure how he’s planning to do that, but he was fine, and the crowd seemed to enjoy him.
Hawthorne Heights
Hawthorne Heights was next in the batting order. Their set was timed just right as they got to announce a victory by the local football team in the NFL playoffs. Many in the crowd were wearing team gear, having had to choose between the historic game next door (the team hadn’t won a playoff game since 1990) or the concert that was scheduled months earlier.
To celebrate the win, HH played a slightly more up-tempo version of their most widely known song, “Ohio is for Lovers.” They were a bit of an odd placement on this bill, but it worked out brilliantly.
Wage War
Metalcore stalwarts Wage War, from Ocala, Florida, came next and proceeded to get the crowd into high gear. Lead singer Briton Bond’s growl was in fine form as he bopped about the stage. Guitarist Cody Quistad provided a nice counter with his “clean” vocals. So good was Quistad, in fact, he made one want him to take on a whole song as he has a great voice.
Falling in Reverse
Falling in Reverse rolled on stage and immediately established they weren’t messing around, opening with their classic “I’m Not a Vampire.” Ronnie Radke strutted back and forth across the front of the stage, often flipping his wireless microphone (and almost dropping it), several times throughout the set.
Rockin’ Ronnie Radke
The band tossed in a few tracks from Escape the Fate (Radke’s former band), thrilling longtime followers while leaving a few new fans puzzled. They wrapped up the evening with a rousing trio of “Zombified,” “Just Like You,” and “Popular Monsters.”
He’s not a vampire
It was the first show since the beginning of the COVID pandemic for many in the crowd. At least, that was the conclusion of an unscientific poll conducted by Johnson. His attitude toward the pandemic seemed a bit lax, as did Radke’s, though both expressed a fair amount of frustration. Wage War barely mentioned it. Those three acts’ position was basically “F the pandemic.” Hawthorne Heights, however, pleaded with fans to support all the acts on the bill by buying merch (recommended, btw), explaining how rough the pandemic has been on artists.
The stage performances by all the acts on the bill proved that no one lost a step and that good times and good music are coming back.
PF Wilson has been writing about music, TV, radio, and movies for over 20 years. He has also written about sports, business, and politics with his work appearing in Cincinnati CityBeat, The Houston Press, Cleveland Scene, Cincinnati Magazine, Cincy Magazine, Atomic Ranch, and many more. Check out his podcast PF’s Tape Recorder available from Podbean or in iTunes.