What would a band whose name was inspired by a famous children's book author sound like? Turns out, nothing like the whimsical and gentle poetry by Shel Silverstein.
Five-piece post-hardcore/screamo outfit Silverstein has steadily been gaining popularity over the last decade. They've gained a foothold in the scene with riffs vaguely reminiscent of NOFX – embellished with heavy drop-D power chords and a generic mixture of screaming and plaintive wailing.
It wasn't Silverstein's first time at local music venue and indoor skate-park Xtreme Wheels, but Buffalo warmly welcomed them again on Saturday evening. The band was greeted with flailing fists, outstretched "devil horns," and a maelstrom of adrenalized young skateboarders and teenage scenesters donned in monochromatic attire, stretched ears, and black-ink tattoos.
Silverstein kicked off the show with "I Am the Arsonist" from their 2009 album, A Shipwreck in the Sand. The band then followed up with a more recent song, "Sacrifice," from its newest production, an EP entitled Transitions.
In spite of a less-than-stellar sound system and an initial sound problem, the roughly 200-person crowd was fraught with visible excitement, and by the time Silverstein stepped up, the park was already dotted with young fans frantically looking for shoes they had lost while crowd surfing.
Though the crowd was predominantly teen, older fans were not absent from the throng. More mature concertgoers could be seen rubbing shoulders and rocking out with their younger counterparts throughout the set. Silverstein is one of the few bands out there capable of tearing down the generation barrier.
"They're awesome. My son showed me [the band] on YouTube, so I decided to come along," said Robert Webb, an amateur metal guitarist from Rochester.
Vocalist Shane Told was not the only one with a rowdy concert persona during the show, as was proven by the crowd's lively moshing and crowd surfing. Throughout the night, the crowd became a sea of violently swinging appendages, managing to keep only a lucky few afloat.
"I got punched in the face in the mosh pit," said Nick Elmer, 16, of Buffalo.
Before Silverstein took to the stage, the crowd was warmed up by A Bullet For Pretty Boy, The Chariot, and Miss May I, all of whom played energetic half-hour sets. Each of the opening acts was able to move the crowd in an expert fashion thanks to power chord-driven rhythms and brutal vocals.
The Chariot especially gave a hyped-up performance that transitioned well into the crowd's reception. From guitarist Brandon Henderson constantly flailing about to lead singer Josh Cogin's stage diving antics, The Chariot refused to allow even a single dull second during their set.
The band covered a wide variety of songs from its ever-growing discography. "Before There Was Atlanta, There Was Douglasville," off the band's debut studio album Everything Is Alive, Everything Is Breathing, Nothing Is Dead, and Nothing Is Bleeding, as well as "Teach," from Wars and Rumors of Wars, both received a vibrant and over-the-top reaction from all fans in attendance.
However, metalcore group Miss May I was able to give The Chariot a run for their money. With hit songs like "Relentless Chaos" and "Our Kings," the group was able to keep the crowd moving in time with the music while simultaneously belting back the lyrics in perfect unison.
It's not often that a show capable of shaking a venue quite the way these artists did Saturday night comes to Buffalo. If you missed it, there's no need to worry. It's only a matter of time before Silverstein ends up back in town yet again.
E-mail: arts@ubspectrum.com
