FROM ASHES TO NEW: HARRISBURG, PA
From Ashes to New with support from The Word Alive, Catch Your Breath and Ekoh
at Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center
photos and words by Jenn Knauff
From Ashes to New closed out part one of their Blackout Tour with two sold-out shows in their hometown! The floor was quite literally rocking on December 16 at the Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center during night one. I have no doubt night two will be the same.
Rapper Ekoh got the show started by asking one question, can a rapper open a metal show? The answer was yes. He got the crowd going with his blend of rap, rock and electric flow! He even rapped his song ‘End Game’ without a beat! He ended his set with fan-favorite ‘Freeverse 3’ asking the crowd if they had on Vans and if so to pass them up; where he signed every shoe passed to him.
Texas natives Catch Your Breathe took the stage next playing from their debut album Shame on Me which came out in October. Ekoh joined them on stage again for their collaboration ‘Mirror’ and had the crowd singing with songs ‘21 Gun Salute’ and clear crowd favorite, ‘Dial Tone.’
The Word Alive (personally one of my favorite bands), were next. Playing mostly from their new album Hard Reset, singer Telle Smith showed the crowd why they have been a staple in the metalcore scene for so long. Playing a good mix from their extensive discography, ‘Trapped’ hit home for a few in the crowd. ‘One of Us,’ the band’s collab with Bad Omens, truly got the crowd rowdy!
Next up was the main act, From Ashes to New! Starting their set off strong ‘Armageddon’ off their recent release Blackout. Singers Danny Case and Matt Brandyberry seamlessly flow back and forth between singing, screaming and rapping, giving From Ashes to New their signature musical style. Halfway through the set Brandyberry took the time to give a very heartfelt speech, telling the crowd how grateful he and the rest of the band were to have their whole families in attendance. He even accepted a gift from a fan for him and his wife, who are welcoming a baby in March! The second half of the set featured some fan favorites including ‘My Name,’ ‘Panic’ and ‘Crazy’ before the band closed the night out, or so we thought! What is a show in December if it doesn’t include a Christmas song? A two-song encore closed the night out with a very festive cover of ‘All I Want For Christmas.’
If you have not been to a From Ashes to New show yet I highly recommend seeing them! Their shows are full of high energy and great music; not to mention their fans are some of the nicest I’ve met! Like Matt said, the From Ashes to New fans are more like a family rather than fans; every show is like a family reunion and you can truly feel the love everyone has for the band!
ekoh
catch your breathe
the word alive
from ashes to new
