Stray From The Path End European Tour In Lisbon With Capsize And We Ride
Sunday, November 5th. Continuing the saga of bands touring Europe and ending them in the Portuguese capital, this time it was Stray From The Path with their friends Capsize and Spanish hardcore band We Ride, all making their debut on Portuguese soil.
For a Sunday matinee worth of music, with the gigs set to start at 5:30pm, I run into a small group of youngsters hanging out little over an hour before doors open, some practising their hardcore dancing moves.
Having never been to a gig of this sort before, I have no idea what to expect of the audience. Besides of the little I knew from seeing stuff online, one thing was certain: I’d be leaving this gig experiencing everything in first-hand.
The audience is set in a bizarre way. Rather than a pit, there’s me (and my friend Andreia that I invited to take a few pics!) in the front, along with other photographers and a handful of fans; and a big space between us and around 30 to 50 people behind, as well as people at the balcony. Naturally, there is A LOT of space for the hardcore kids to do their thing.
Right on time, Mimi Telmo, frontwoman of We Ride runs on stage as they start blasting off some of their greatest hits from their amazing debut album, Empowering Life, such as “Self Made”, “What You Are” and “Do It All Again” Equally amazing is how they’re able to fit into 25 minutes such prowess that really get the crowd moving.
There really couldn’t be a better band to start off a gig, since their debut is definitely one of the best albums you’ll hear all year. So seeing live incarnations of those same songs, was brilliantly pulled off in ways only they know how to.
Capsize were up next, presenting their new single “Cold Shoulder”, along with a short set that was pretty vivid, but didn’t quite have the right audience for the songs being performed.
Between modern classics “You Can’t Come Home The Same” and “The Angst In My Veins”, this was a pretty straight forward performance that was fully charged to the max.
Sadly the response was not as energetic, which was a damn shame, considering how grateful Capsize were about finishing their tour here in our beautiful country.
Also, to the asshole in the red shirt that went around randomly punching people in the back, you’re a dick.
There isn’t much of a wait time between bands, even as they quickly soundcheck their instruments before the real thing starts.
But the lights dim and the ever charismatic Andrew Dijorio gets things going very fast with “The Opening Move” and “Loudest In The Room”, two tracks off their new album Only Death Is Real.
Moving on to the well-known verses of “Badge & A Bullet, Pt. II”, it isn’t until Dijorio addresses the audience.
With a reputation of being outspoken, he lists the kind of people that aren’t welcome to his shows. ‘Racists aren’t welcome to Stray From The Path shows’ he shouts before performing new anthem “Goodnight Alt-Right” that just gets everyone mental.
After that, it’s one hard-hitting song after the other, not forgetting songs like “Black Friday” and “All Day & A Night”, ending with epic “First World Problem Child”, this has been one hell of a gig to see live, right front and centre.
Stray From The Path come back for the encore and the song that ends a long tour, with “Only Death Is Real” having the honours.
All in all, this was probably of the most intense gigs I’ve seen this year. Too bad the kids on this side were too busy beating the crap out of each other.
And windmilling. Lots of windmills…
Stray From The Path’s latest release Only Death Is Real, as well as We Ride’s debut Empowering Life, all now available on all physical and digital outlets, as well as streaming services.
Capsize’s new single “Cold Shoulder” is available on all digital outlets to stream and purchase.
A big thanks to Mimi Telmo from We Ride for the photo, and to Walter at KINDA Agency, for making it happen. Special thanks to Hell Xis Agency for everything else!