by Jessica Dooley
My camera guy was late, the venue doors had opened at least an hour earlier than I expected and I wasn’t quite sure who the first band was that would be starting the Flyleaf-POD headlining show on this particular Sunday night at the TLA.
When I finally walked into the venue, we were able to catch the tail end of Manafest, an-all black wearing Canadian, Christian artist. I had forgotten years ago, listening to Flyleaf for the first time and realizing they were completely a Christian metalcore group.
It is impossible to leave the Christian qualifier from these genres, as that would be like stripping the coating off a battery. These bands aren’t limited in their identities as Christians but their songwriting takes on a more scripture and faith-based complexity. Their connection with their audience literally has a more spiritual significance. This allegiance to their divine beliefs allows for several generations to enjoy the same space, happily. Gray-haired biker-esque grandfather-aged men side by side with grade-school aged kids, rowdy high school boys and women scattered in ages, namely a few who seem like staples in their local choirs.
That being said, my camera guy and myself are atheists and the least likely members of the crowd to be here taking in the show for what it is: bands playing music.
With Manafest having left the stage, Stars in Stereo appeared next and brought with them their own special brand of melodic rock. Their vocalist (Rebecca Hollcraft) is a pint-sized, long-haired brunette who’s vocals seem to take up more room than she does. Seeing her, I’m actually reminded of original Flyleaf front-woman, Lacey Mosley, who departed from the lineup just last year. Hollcraft leads the Stars through their set mixing slow ambiance with heavier rock, and even lends her guitar skills on a few tracks.
Crowd participation goes through the roof after a spirited cover of Aerosmith’s “Dream On” and it amuses me a great deal how many people throw up “devil horns” despite the religious undercurrent.
The band as a whole deliver truly solid performances of new material and fan favorites alike, including “Fully Alive”, “Again”, “Cassie”, “All Around Me” and “So Sick”. As the show continues, I am more and more touched by May’s performance. Again, as with the case of their former frontwoman, May is a petite woman with a vocal range that more than makes up for those times when she isn’t standing on a platform or kneeling on stage.
By the time POD performs, my expectations for a good night have been met. Live, POD is all thrashing drums and dual vocals. They remind me of a splicing between Rage Against The Machine and Limp Bizkit.
Front-man Sonny Sandoval lives up to the band’s tour introductory track–which warned the audience that they were in for a lot of participation. Engaging at first with the first row, Sandoval then hurls himself into the middle of the crowd to be carried side to side until he decides to return to the stage. Their set rages with guitar breakdowns, wicked keyboarding and constant interactive delivery from Sandoval.
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I have just written a book about The Flyleaf Band called “Flyleaf Spreads Their Wings”m the web site is http://www.flyleafbook.com. The book has been sent to the printer, Create Space, a self-publishing company that is a division of Amazon.com. Check it out, later Carl
This is Carl Phelan and the book ‘Flyleaf Spreads Their Wings’ was released on 9-29-2014. If anyone on your great staff would like to review this book I will be happy to send a digital review copy and press release, thanks Carl Phelan