In this day and age there are so many ways to find new bands and music to listen to. You can wind up adding dozens of new artists to your playlists in a single day, and of course you want to see them live as soon as possible. If you’re an avid concert goer like myself, you can sometimes have a hard time keeping track of what tours are coming. New bands that you just discovered could have just played your local venue the other week, of maybe they are an opening act on a major tour that you didn’t realize. This has happened to me on many occasions, and I facepalm every time I realize I missed a new band I wanted to see. Well, I finally had to chance to check a few bands of my bucket list when the Deathless Tour was announced. Set it Off was coming to Riverside Municipal Auditorium and bringing Crown the Empire, DeathbyRomy, and Caskets with them. Three of these bands I have unfortunately missed every time they come to town, but not this time!

Opening the night was Caskets. This band was introduced to me by a friend when we were going for a drive. He turned to me and went “I know you’re gonna love this,” turned up the radio, and with the first song I was hooked. I eagerly awaited my chance to experience this band live. Opening with “Drowned in Emotion,” I was taken back when vocalist Matt Flood started singing. He sounded exactly like he does on record. His voice carries so much emotion with it that you can feel the heartache in the words he sings. Flanked by guitarists Craig Robinson and Benji Wilson who intertwine their melodies to harmonize with Flood’s vocal range, and then add punch and drive to take the song to a rocking level. Drummer James Lazenby is the perfect timekeeper for the band. He knows exactly when to push the tempo of the song when needed, and pulls back to play in the pocket to mix in with the rest of the band. For being the opening band on the tour, fans could be seen singing with each song played like “Believe,” “Hold Me Now,” “In the Silence,” “Guiding Light,” “Lost in Echoes,” and “Glass Heart.” The energy of the crowd was already at a high as Caskets finished their set, and we were all ready for more music still to come.

Up next was a band experience that I feel most of the crowd was not ready for but was won over by them almost instantly. DeathbyRomy hit the stage with an in your face attitude and dark gothic energy. DeathbyRomy is singer Romy Flores. Flores started the set out wearing a big oversized coat, almost acting as a barrier from truly connecting with the artist. None the less, she was all over the stage, and making sure each and every patron was paying attention to her. About a third of the way through the set, Flores disrobed out of the coat to reveal a bondage-esque body suit with fish nets. It was at this moment that Flores revealed her true energy on stage and opened herself up to be taken in by the crowd. Seeing her now performing in this new outfit, it felt like a metamorphosis of her persona. From being closed off and reserved, almost hiding your true nature and not wanting to be seen in the coat. To being in a revealing outfit, finally taking those steps out of the closet to be who you were always meant to be. This only amped up Flores’s stage presence as she became more seductive on stage. Even her guitarist Jayden Hammer and bassist Cheska Zaide went through an outfit metamorphosis opening themselves up to be seen by the screaming crowd. DeathbyRomy had fans captivated throughout the entire set with songs like “Vicious Bliss,” “City of Angels,” “I Feel Like a God,” “I Kill Everything,” “Hellhound,” “Crash,” “Saint,” “2, 4, 6, 8,” “No Mercy,” and ending with “Day I Die.” With the final song Flores jumped into the mosh pit to get even closer with her fans. Whether you were familiar with DeathbyRomy before the show or not, they certainly left a lasting impression on everyone.

The next band to hit the stage was the only one on this tour that I had seen before. Crown the Empire has always been a solid act, and I feel they continue to get better with every new show I see them at.  Opening this set with the song “DOGMA,” vocalist Andy Leo was more than ready to be on stage singing and performing for Crown’s fans. Starting the song off almost crooning into the microphone, building anticipation for the high energy that Crown is known for. It was when the song hit its chorus that Andy went off hopping and dancing around the stage. Guitarist Brandon Hoover plays with a crunchy distortion sound to his guitar. Layered with bassist Hayden Tree, the two craft fast paced rhythms that adds texture to Leo’s vocals. Drummer Jeeves Avalos can be seen pounding away on his kit with such powerful energy he probably doesn’t need to have his kit mic’d. The double bass beats that he plays is the shot of adrenaline that the moshers need to open the circle pit to its biggest size of the night. Getting the second longest set of the night, Crown the Empire made it count with songs like “Black Sheep,” “Zero,” “What I Am,” “In Another Life,” “Superstar,” “The Fallout,” “Blurry (Out of Place),” and ending with “Makeshift Chemistry.” This was my fourth time seeing Crown the Empire, and each time I grow more and more of a fan of these guys. They bring a fun charismatic energy that connects with every fan in the crowd.

You’d think after three high energy bands the crowd’s energy might be starting to wane, but you could see the desire in their eyes as we awaited our headliners. A voice came over the speakers counting down the band about to hit the stage from 30 seconds, all the while illuminating the drum set as it looked like it sat in the mouth of a carnival built in hell. Once the count down reached zero, the crowd erupted as Set it Off kicked their set into high gear with “Parasite.” Vocalist Cody Carson was quick to get the audience involved with the show. Constantly pumping his arm up and down directing the crowd to follow suit, and like an orchestra following their conductor we all happily complied. Guitarist Zach DeWall plays with levity to his style that adds brightness to Set it Off’s sound. DeWall’s riffs are what help define the band as pop rock. Drummer Maxx Danzinger has his kit sitting right in the mouth of the devils carnival’s entrance. Not wanting to be lost in the back of the stage of this three piece band, Danzinger adds big movements to his playing to make sure he is entertaining the audience just as much as the rest of the band. For the song “Partners in Crime” Romy Flores of DeathbyRomy joined the band on stage for a feature. On the album this song is co-sung by Ash Costello, but Flores makes it her own live adding more personality to the tune.

During “Ancient History” an air mattress was tossed on top of the crowd. Before anyone could realize what was going on, Cody Carson jumped on the mattress. Completely standing up and riding the mattress like it was an oversized surfboard, fans ran down to the floor to add to the sea of people surfing him across the venue. Even drummer Maxx Danzinger had a moment to shine outside of the drum kit taking over vocal duty for “I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead.” Set it Off was nothing but fun and excitement with every song they played that night like “Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing,” “Fake Ass Friends,” “Lonely Dance,” “The Haunting,” “Evil people,” “Kill the Lights,” “Forever Stuck in Our Youth,” “Hypnotized,” “Win Win,” “Swan Song,” “Killer in the Mirror,” “Why Worry,” and ending with an encore of “Punching Bag.”

For a tour with three bands that I have had on my bucket list for a while, there can be some expectations that my mind sets for me that you never know if the bands will live up to. And I am happy to say each band crushed and exceeded those expectations. I could not ask for a more heartfelt connection with Caskets music. DeathbyRomy brought a dark perversion to the crowd and wound all of us around her finger. Crown the Empire continues to put on an outstanding live show filled with high energy whether they are headlining or a support act. While Set it Off sent us all home with a huge smile on our faces. Their music just incites fun, and you can’t help but jump and dance to it. There are only a few stops left on this tour. But you need to make it a mission to not miss the next time any of these four bands come to your town. You won’t regret it.