Eastside Bowl in Nashville, TN once again hosted an amazing show. Even though we were the last stop for the tour, each band played like it was the first. This lineup was so desired, that the show had to be moved from The End to Eastside. I got to talk with Bruce, the owner of The End, and he said that the tickets were in such high demand that he simply didn’t have room for the crowd. The night consisted of a Nashville local named Hollow Wake, along with Set For Tomorrow, Not Enough Space, and Dark Divine. This was Dark Divine’s first US headlining tour and they did not disappoint. After numerous tours with various other big bands, they have been consistently growing the past 3 years, especially here in Nashville. Dark Divine knew exactly who to put on their lineup and quickly sold out multiple cities on this tour.
With one local act, another from Richmond, and the final two from Orlando, the group was able to pull a crowd that came from so many different areas. Hollow Wake and Set For Tomorrow immediately set the scene for the music in store. Hollow brought a sound that was almost like a slightly heavier Sleeping With Sirens which was amazing. They use techno sounds in their newest single and the chorus is very reminiscent of classic SWS. Set brought a completely different energy. They are a lot heavier in their verses, with more growls and guttural vocals, but some of their songs also have a melodic chorus that pulls you in. Even though this was Dark Divine’s tour, Not Enough Space had the fans going crazy. It’s not very often you see a heavy metal band lead by two female vocalists, and the women of Nashville definitely showed up for the group. Both vocalists can hit stunning clean notes and both can scream like you’ve never heard. Watching them live was a transformative experience, and it proves that women in the metal scene are starting to become more prominent and desired as musicians. The crowd lit up for Not Enough Space. They played multiple songs from their newest album but we also heard Don’t Be Scared, one of the bands original songs. The whole room screamed before the breakdown and you could feel the feminine rage in the room. The band also had a lot of sweet moments, with the vocalist Liz thanking us in a sweet voice at the end of each song.
Both vocalists interacted intimately with the crowd, especially girls at the front. You constantly saw them singing lyrics to fans, at one point they let a fan scream a lyric, or holding their hands, which made you feel like you were truly connecting with the artists. There was even a table brought out onto the stage during their last song, and band members from each group played various different games while they played. Dark Divine rounded out the night with a riff heavy and mysterious set. Each band member had different face paint to disguise their features, and the bassist even kept his hood down low for the whole set. Each member had their own way of acknowledging the crowd which kept each fan on their toes and begging for more by the time the night was done. Multiple fans could be seen moshing or singing Dark Divine’s songs and the lead vocalist even asked to turn on the house lights so he could see all of us in between two songs, which despite the momentary blindness, brought a smile to the crowds face. The show brought together children and parents, showcasing how much music can span over generations and how it can bring people together. It was clear that everyone in the room had a lot of admiration for the bands on the stage that night, and that feeling only grew after hearing each one play. And having that connection with complete strangers is something that only happens at concerts.
- Ashlee Riggins
Photos Courtesy of Ashlee Riggins (For Bell Music Magazine)
