[ATTENDED: September 9, 2019] Spiritbox
We arrived pretty early for this show. Early enough to get merch before the first band went on.
My son and his friend had seats (straight back and a few rows up–they said the view was perfect), but I wanted standing room on the floor. And just as I walked down the steps to the floor, the lights went dark and I walked pretty close to the stage.
Then Spiritbox came out. I didn’t know them at all. But their story is
Spiritbox is a Canadian heavy metal band from Victoria, British Columbia. Husband and wife duo guitarist Mike Stringer and vocalist Courtney LaPlante established Spiritbox in 2017. The band’s full lineup comprises LaPlante, Stringer and drummer Zev Rose; former As I Lay Dying bassist Josh Gilbert currently performs live with the band.
The band plays pretty loud and abrasive guitars, but there’s all kinds of electronic effects and interesting quiet/loud elements going on. Courtney LaPlante can growl/ scream very impressively, but she also has a pretty singing voice, adding even more to the diversity.
It’s like they combined some of the best elements of various new heavy metal sounds into a composite that sounds familiar but unique at the same time.
For instance “Hurt You” starts with a heavy chords and a roaring almost siren-like lead riff. It quickly shifts into soft synths and drums while LaPlante scream/growls (and you can understand what she’s saying, which is nice) then the bridge comes in and the guitars are heavier (but not as heavy as the beginning) and she croons in a really pretty voice. It jumps back and forth like this a few times until near the end there’s an even quieter moment where the music fades back and LaPlante shows off her powerful voice even more. Then an abrupt scream leads to the pummeling end. There’s a lot going on and it works really well.
“Yellowjacket,” meanwhile opens with a programmed electronic rhythmic pattern before the heavy guitars and bass pump in. They really play up the different aspects.
I really enjoyed the set, although I think I was mostly blown away by LaPlante’s vocals, which were possibly more impressive live than they were on record.
Their stage setup was pretty dark with a kind of lit up nuclear symbol glowing in the back. So I couldn’t really see all that much of what was going on. I was on the side with bassist Gilbert and he added backing vocals as well. The guitars were pretty great and Mike Stringer was an impressive force as he added so many sounds and textures.
I don’t know where the synths and programming came from. I always assume its from the drummer. I couldn’t see Zev Rose at all so I have no idea what he was doing back there. I really enjoyed the set as did a lot of people around me. I think we were all a little bummed that their set was so short.
In fact there was a group who came running in during the last song saying they drove all the way from New York City (to Trenton–that’s pretty far) just to see Spiritbox. But traffic was terrible.
At least they can take comfort that Spiritbox is doing a headlining tour in the spring (with two nights in NYC). I may have to check them out as headliners at the TLA.
- Circle With Me €
- Hurt You €
- Yellowjacket €
- Holy Roller €
- Rotoscope ®
- Hysteria ®
€ Eternal (2021)
® Rotoscope single (2022)
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