PHOTOS: We Came As Romans celebrates ‘To Plant a Seed’ in L.A.
LOS ANGELES — Michigan metalcore group We Came as Romans brought its tour celebrating the 10-year anniversary of debut album To Plant a Seed to The Regent Theater on Wednesday.
We Came As Romans, The Devil Wears Prada, Dayseeker, Hollow Front
7 p.m., Saturday
The UC Theatre, Berkeley
Tickets: $25.
Several onstage screens played videos of each member explaining the significance of the album to them before the band came out. Vocalist Dave Stephens would go on to say later that on this tour, We Came a Roman would perform the album for the final time.
As bassist Andy Glass jumped onto a platform in the middle of the stage, the sudden banging of drummer David Puckett was joined by the roaring riffs of guitarists Joshua Moore and Lou Cotton, as the band kicked off the show with the title track.
Before the final album track, the band exited the stage and the screens returned. This time, playing a minutes-long tribute to former vocalist Kyle Pavone, who tragically passed away in 2018 from an accidental overdose. Stephens then returned to the stage to share memories of Pavone as well as to speak about the importance of mental health awareness and the role of the Kyle Pavone Foundation.
The encore included “Promise Me” and “Cold Like War,” from Cold Like War, as well as new track “Darkbloom.”
Post-hardcore pioneers The Devil Wears Prada preceded the headliners but easily could have been mistaken as the top act with their powerful, adrenaline-packed performance featuring their dark new releases and classic bangers.
The Ohio natives came out firing on the opener, new track “Nightfall.” They followed that up with favorites like “Outnumbered” and “Born To Lose.” Frontman Mike Hranica had wild stage presence while guitarists Jeremy DePoyster and Kyle Sipress ripped through the heavy riffs on “Mammoth.” Drummer Giuseppe Capolupo, who replaced longtime drummer Daniel Williams, brilliantly shined with his double-bass skills on “Forlorn.”
“Have you heard of Plagues?” Hranica asked the audience following multiple new songs. He was referring to The Devil Wears Prada’s breakout album from 2006, and the crowd responded with deafening screams as the band began playing “Hey John, What’s Your Name Again?”
The Devil Wears Prada closed out its electrifying set with one of its most famous tracks, “Danger, Wildman.”
Orange County’s Dayseeker erupted with “The Color Black” before vocalist Rory Rodriguez introduced the band, including guitarist Gino Sgambelluri, bassist Ramone Valerio and drummer Mike Karle. Between songs, Rodriguez spoke on the highs and lows that the pandemic has brought the band and himself. He then dedicated their performance to his late father, who passed away earlier this year, adding that his father is the reason he became a singer. Dayseeker finished off its set with “Sleeptalk.”
Michigan metalcore group Hollow Front kicked off the show with heavy riffs on opening track “Afflicted.” That set the tone for the evening. Vocalist Tyler Tate got the crowd jumping with the energetic “Vagabond,” before instructing attendees to form a circle pit for closer “Treading Water.”
Follow photographer Aaron Marquez at Instagram.com/airrr21.