Jacob Luhrs of August Burns Red
Photo: Kailey Howell/The Pit Media
Ten years ago, in June of 2007 August Burns Red released their second full length album Messengers. The album was the first to feature today’s lead vocalist, Jake Luhrs. The album contains favorites such as “Composure,” “Back Burner,” and “Truth of a Liar.” To celebrate the album’s anniversary, the band announced a ten-year anniversary tour featuring opening bands ’68, In Hearts Wake, and Protest the Hero.
’68 is the metal core duo Josh Scogin and Michael McClellan. On the bands Facebook page, they describe themselves as “A splash of roots, a soulful yearning for mid-century Americana and the fiery passion of post punk ferocity rampages over a record of earnestly forceful tracks like a runaway locomotive.”. Their four song set list did not miss a beat, the two giving constant energy and sound to the hall. Josh on guitar and vocals never seemed to stop moving, and Michael on drums never seemed to slow down. The set ended with not one, but three throws of Josh’s guitar high into the air.
Australian natives, In Hearts Wake, took the stage next, opening with their latest single “Refuge.” Vocalist Jake Taylor brought a blow-up crocodile, threw it into the crowd, and leaped over the barrier to climb on top of it and crowd surf while singing. The band ended their set with fan favorite “Earthwalker”.
Protest the Hero came onto the stage inquiring the truth of whether they were standing on the infamous stage from the movie 8 Mile, but after settling the dispute, the band kicked off their set with “Yellow Teeth”. The band performed various songs from their 2016 release Pacific Myth including “Harbinger” and “Tidal”. The punk influenced prog-metal band excited the crowd, while constant crowd surfing ensued. The band closed with “Skies”, leaving the crowd anxious for August Burns Red to take the stage.
August Burns Red did not disappoint, playing Messengers in it’s entirety, from “The Truth of a Liar” to “Redemption”. Complete with Jake Luhrs intense vocals and swinging of the mic, J.B.’s infamous flip flops, and not to forget Matt Greiner’s immense talent on the drums. There are no words to give this band’s performance the praise it deserves, it was simply amazing. This being the fourth time I was seeing August Burns Red, I can wholeheartedly say this was the best, most intense show I have ever seen them play. The crowd was insane; while photographing the band, it seemed there wasn’t a second security wasn’t catching a crowd surfer from the very first song. There seemed to always be a pit going in the crowd. Matt Greiner showcased his talent on the drums for his own solo after “Redemption”, to open for the bands encore of “Empire”, “Fault Line”, “Martyr” (in which Jake initiated a wall of death) and “Ghosts” as well as following the tradition of closing with “White Washed”.
