Friday, Jan. 19 was just an ordinary Friday for most. Unless you’re a fan of Survive This!, Chelsea Grins, Escape The Fate, or Falling In Reverse. Jannus Live (an outdoor concert venue and bar in downtown St. Pete) was loud and pumping with excitement as the crowd awaited the concert of the decade.
After almost six years of Mabbitt’s ETF, Radke has settled his grudge, a least a little. So they put their musically gifted minds and vocals together to create the amazing Bury The Hatchet Tour. The opening bands were of high energy to pump up the crowd, and with great stage presences and good songs, they rocked. Although they didn’t get a lot of time on the stage, they still made every second count and the pit was eating it up. Once intermission started for the headliner, the pit buzzed with excitement, so pumped for the epicness that they’d all been waiting days, weeks, and months for.
Roadies set up equipment, checked mics and instruments, the volume rose, anticipation builded. Band members moseyed out onto the stage, and girls screamed. Louder and louder, fans waited for Mabbitt and the songs that had been stuck in their heads all day long. As he walked out, every girl started screaming, so loud you couldn’t even hear the buzzing in your own ears. Classy as always, Mabbitt wore a shirt with Daryl (The Walking Dead) on it that says WWDD? ( What Would Daryl Do?).
They played songs from their new album (Picture Perfect) and many others that weren’t nearly as important to mention, and the classic first ETF album (Gorgeous Nightmare, Lost In Darkness); it was the perfect balance of ETF, Mabbitt style. A great set, fun band mates, and beer being shaken and thrown into the crowd by a very nice guitarist also took place.
But ETF couldn’t stand a chance against FIR. A very messed up version of the opening from Full House, remade with the band and “Our Black Friend”, started the show. Radke brought everything he had to pump up the already exploding group of loyal fans. They mixed the old album with the new, played the perfect batch of songs (although they didn’t play my favorite song, Keep Holding On, which was upsetting). They also celebrated one of the guitarist’s missed birthday on stage, while fans sung him “Happy Birthday” and watched him blow out the candles.
Surprise ending: Mabbitt and Radke actually “bury the hatchet” and sing together. They sang “Not Good Enough For The Truth In Cliche” and probably the most well known song, “Situations”. Which I got a video of but I doubt anyone wants to listen to me scream the lyrics right back at the boys.
Pushing, shoving, crowd surfers, hair pulling, drugs and alcohol all made up the pit. It was a chilly night out but the pit was burning up, smashed between so many bodies and everyone jumping and moving, and I was sweating. Barely making a dent in comparison to the pits for Warped Tour or even Next Big Thing, which are so much larger and crazier.
Overall, it was a great concert from a fan of both old and new singers and both bands. Score: 8/10
Tiffany Napoli/Business Manager
