On my way to the show, I received a DM from the band Currents! They had accepted my invitation to be interviewed—more details to follow on that. Pulling up to the venue, we walked upstairs to find Mugshot already on stage, gathering the crowd entering the venue. Though the band might have been new to me, they were far from new to the music scene, having been together since 2016. Their music immediately caught my ear, as well as the attention of many others. The lead vocalist emerged on stage with the mic cord wrapped around his neck, pounding his chest to the bass thump of the drums, setting the energetic tone for the night.
To my surprise, the next band, Dying Wish, marched out on stage led by their female vocalist, Emma Boster. It was refreshing to see a woman command the stage in such a male-dominated genre. With nails done and hair pulled back, she exuded a fun Harley Quinn vibe, followed by high kicks and high notes. She was flawless in her switch from hardcore screaming to melodies, which kept the crowd on their toes. The bassist, Jon Mackey, called for a circle pit, and the whole band engaged the crowd, making their set interactive and exhilarating.
Now, let me take you back to the beginning of the night. With the help of my dad, we persistently contacted the band Currents. As we were on our way to the venue, we received the DM confirming that they were willing to meet with us before the show. I couldn’t help but scream in the car; one of my favorite bands had replied to our request. After parking downtown, we were met by lead vocalist Brian, who escorted us to the tour bus where the other band members were waiting. They welcomed us in, and we sat down to dive into the questions I had prepared beforehand.
Q: How do you think you’ve changed as a band?
Matt: “Oooh, that’s one of the best questions we’ve gotten. I would say we’ve all become a little more professional as we’ve grown. Knowing what tasks need to be done throughout the day to ensure our days go smoothly. Everyone has stepped up to the plate, knowing we have a lot more responsibilities now.”
Chris: “Being more responsible with our time, both on and off stage. Prioritizing sleep and exercise instead of staying up all night playing video games.”
Matt: “We treat it less like a vacation and more like work, being able to mix the two.”
Q: How did you all meet?
Brian: “The band started in 2011 in Connecticut. The lineup has evolved over time, but now it feels solidified. I joined in 2015 along with our other guitar players. We found Christian and Matt a bit later; Matt actually auditioned for us. He was in a different band but within the same scene and area. Through a mutual friend and being in the right place at the right time, Matt secured an opportunity to audition for us. He only had two practices with the band before joining us on tour…”
Q: Have any of you ever stage dived?
Matt: “I have not, and I don’t think I’m going to.”
Brian: “I’ve stage dived only once. I lost a game called ‘What Are the Odds’ and had to stage dive during Miss May I’s set when we were in Europe…I was terrified.”
Chris: “One of the coolest times I did it was during a festival, and as the crowd was carrying me, they brought me back to the stage. I was climbing back on to the stage and saw Steve-O was watching us! I was star-struck the whole rest of the set, playing way better.”
Q: On tour, have you ever visited any historical landmarks, and if so, what were some of your favorites?
Brian: “I loved the Grand Canyon; it was really cool…I want to visit Niagara Falls with the band.”
Matt: “The first year I was with the band, we went to Universal Studios, which was cool. It was my first time experiencing anything Disney-related. In Europe, it was the Eiffel Tower for me. That was the first major historical site where I felt like a mega-tourist.”
Chris: “I’m a big history nerd, especially in Europe. There are so many historical sites to explore—WWI, WWII sites, and castles everywhere. Whenever you see them, you’re like, ‘Wow.'”
Q: What is your favorite food to get on tour?
Brian: “Some would say Panda Express.”
As Brian spoke, Matt dug into the refrigerator and pulled out a giant tray.
Matt: “Homemade cheesecake!”
Chris: “We are big fans of tacos, especially from those little trucks on the side of the road. We are a food-oriented band and could talk about it all day.”
Brian: “We appreciate the little hole-in-the-wall places, or when you get the chance to enjoy a nice dinner. We could keep talking about food forever.”
Q: Have you always wanted to be musicians?
Brian: “Yes, just never knew how. I wasn’t fond of guitar or drums, but I was a big fan of Linkin Park. I always wanted to be like Mike Shinoda, not the screamer but the singer who hyped up the crowd. I found heavier bands that did scream vocals, and I thought, ‘If that guy is screaming and singing, there has to be a way, right?’ That was the start of my journey.”
Matt: “Funny, mine was the opposite. I would sing and scream because that’s all I knew until fourth grade when they offered school band. Out of all the instruments, I chose drums. Ever since then, I’ve been on drums. I can do vocals now, but if you give me a microphone without the drums, I’ll pass out. It’s like my anxiety kicks in; I’ll turn red. But when I was young, I would sing and scream, but once I got a pair of drumsticks, I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m not that confident, what are we talking about? I’ll sit in the back.'”
Chris: “How old are you?”
Luka: “I’m nine years old.”
Chris: “Well, I was actually your age when I decided this is what I wanted to do forever. I had cool parents like yours who would bring me to shows. There were always two things I wanted to do: be a musician or a professional fighter. Now, I am a musician and I own a Brazilian jiu-jitsu gym.”
Q: Do you guys always go out together?
Brian: “Sometimes, a solo mission is cool. Like a couple of days ago, I went on a walk and stumbled upon a little restaurant. I thought, ‘You know what? I’m just going to sit down, order a drink, and hang out for a bit for some solo time.'”
Matt: “It’s important to find that solo time every now and then. Like today, these guys went to lunch, and I stayed behind to do some light stretching, take care of myself, and have a little quiet time. It was perfect.”
Chris: “There have been times I’ve sat in the empty trailer while it’s 1000 degrees outside, like a sauna. I’m by myself, it’s dark, and I’m at peace.”
During the interview, the tour and love life of the band were brought up. They mentioned how crucial it was to stay in contact with their significant others throughout the day. Facetimes play a big part in being there for each as much as they can. They each took turns speaking highly of their partners’ understanding of the tour life. The band all agreed that having good communication and supporting one another is key to doing the best that you can do. It’s not only about understanding your partners’ needs but also your own and how well you can maintain them.
We said our goodbyes, took a picture, and wished them luck on their set. The next time we saw them was when they appeared on stage. Opening their set to a lively crowd, the speakers boomed with a hit from their 2020 album ‘Never There’. It didn’t take long, and a wave of crowd surfers started coming across the venue towards the front of the stage. I was lost in the moment when Brian introduced the next song. During the interview, they asked me what one of my favorite songs was. I told them how much I enjoy ‘Kill the Ache’, and to my surprise, Brian gave me a shoutout dedicating the song to me! “This one’s for you, Luka!” he screamed. I couldn’t believe that he would remember me. The whole band was beaming from the stage with their incredible talents. Most electrifying to watch was Chris because he moved around on stage like a Texas tornado with legs the Gracie’s would be impressed by. At the end of their set, my Dad was hit in the head by Matt’s drumstick. We counted that as good luck for the rest of the week.
To end the night, House of Blues welcomed The Amity Affliction on stage. This is their 10-year anniversary tour for their album ‘Let the Ocean Take Me’. Their drummer was off to the side of the stage, something I had never seen before. The reason for this was quickly revealed when a flash of visuals played. They captured the attention of every person in the venue. The crowd intensified as the first notes played. After Currents, my 9-year-old social battery was draining out. But with the new surge of energy thanks to The Amity Affliction, I was able to continue jamming out for the rest of the night.
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