AWOLNATION brought their Falling Forward tour to Pittsburgh for an absolutely blinding Friday night set at StageAE with support from Bad Flower and The Mysterines
First up, The Mysterines, with an alt rock vibe led by dark voiced singer Lia Metcalfe played a captivating set. Supporting their May EP release, All These Things, the band were a wonderfully moody start of the night.
Bad Flower took over where The Mysterines left off. Onstage to the roar of the crowd, Bad Flower played loud and fast, raw and honest, cheeky and serious. Their set was dead on. Mostly tracks from This is how the World Ends, they sounded amazing and came with serious energy.
Finally after two great openers it was time for AWOLNATION. Having caught the band several times as it evolved over the years I can honestly say…wow. Just wow. Leading in with the latest single, You’re Freaking Me Out, the entire set was a perfect mix of moody and in-your-face. There’s a new maturity to the show that is palpable, and it fits so well. Front man Aaron Bruno, sophisticated in suit and Chucks, seemed to be channeling a slick, sleek modern version of himself and his band. With a clever set and lighting scheme, Bruno spent the show casting shadows against the walls and bringing a general drama to the night. Dance Baby Dance indeed. When the band finally played the crowd favorite, Sail, the crowd took over and drowned out even Bruno’s powerful delivery.
Live from the Pitt 