Upon hearing that The Almost and Emery were coming to town, I became very excited! I had never seen The Almost, but have heard rave reviews on their live performance. I had seen Emery at Creation Fest in ’07, but that doesn’t really count.
Shortly after 6:30 I arrived at the popular rock venue, Rock’ N’ Roll Pizza in east Portland, OR. The venue/café/bar is a small venue, which packed out for a fun concert experience. The stage is a good five feet off the ground, making it easy to see everyone on the very small stage. Although the bar was off to the side, it was still an annoyance as smoke filled the room. It helped put a perspective on the kind of audience that Emery and The Almost (not to mention Underoath) play to.
The first band to play was a secular pop/rock band called Army of Me, they were good musically, but had an odd and awkward stage presence. At times I couldn’t tell whether or not the lead singer was drunk or not, although I’m not judging whether he was or wasn’t, that may give you an idea to the awkwardness.
Next was another secular screamo/rock act called, Envy on the Coast, they did an amazing job, and were very popular amongst the crowd, but they too had a strange stage presence, sometimes it almost felt demonic. I couldn’t help but notice that, and it made the music a little discomforting.
Even though I knew this, it still seemed to be a bit odd and surprising that Emery was dubbed the third spot, and not the headline position. Regardless, they rocked the show! Probably one of the best performances I’ve seen by a rock/screamo act, period. They were energetic (similar to Creation, only more intense due to the stage size and vibe of the crowd), entertaining, and amazing performers. They played a number of hit songs stretching over a 50-minute set time. The anticipation of breakdowns, screams, and catch-phrases in their lyrics, kept the crowd aglow and interested in their set. They played a mix of old and new songs including hits from their debut and sophomore releases like: “Walls,” “Studying Politics,” and “Ponytail Parades.” However, the majority of songs were from their most recent effort, I’m Only A Man, including: “Rock-N-Rule,” “The Party Song,” “After The Devil Beats His Wife,” and “Can’t Stop the Killer.” Once their set was over, it felt like the show should be over. They overwhelmingly succeeded “co-headlining act” status, and deserved more time, but for now, I’ll take what they gave.
After a rather long set change, a bright sign was revealed displaying “The Almost” as the brain behind The Almost, Aaron Glimpse, came out next and rocked the crowd with his intense hit “Say This Sooner.” The crowd quickly accepted the high-energy, explosive show Aaron and his boys gave. The band wrestled through all twelve-tracks from The Almost’s debut album, Southern Weather, and one cover song.
It became apparent why The Almost was headlining, however, I still thought Emery put on a better, well-balanced show. The Almost sparked intensity in the bar as well, when he came to his popular rendition of “Amazing Grace” which he dubs “Amazing, Because It Is.” It was really unique and refreshing to hear a crowd of such diversity coming together to join in the song. The looks from the bar were nothing short of surprised, confused, and interested. The song was probably the highlight for me, nothing like good worship in a venue that includes a bar.
Aaron and The Almost was nothing short of spectacular, add Emery to the mix, and this was a once in a lifetime-type tour. Two of the best Tooth & Nail bands coming together to reach out to an audience many despise. It gave me a greater respect for the bands and their ministries. Another highlight was the encore song “Dirty and Left Out,” an impressive way to end a high-intensity show.
Overall, the show was amazing. One of the best, if not the best, club show I’ve ever seen. The price for tickets was hefty, but if you made it out to the tour, you’d agree it was well worth it. If you see Emery or The Almost coming out to a show near you, I highly recommend going!
Article by Jeremy Koering
