On April 30th, fresh off the heels of their “South by So What?!” performance Beartooth barreled into the Cannery Ballroom; as they brought the second leg of the “Disease” tour to Nashville, TN. As fans crossed roads and parking lots to arrive at the venue, excited chatter floated across the airwaves; as fans couldn’t believe Beartooth was finally going to perform in Nashville. Granted, this wasn’t the first time Beartooth had made an appearance in Nashville; as Caleb Shomo [Lead Singer] had remarked how Beartooth had recorded their latest album “Disease,” just down the road at Blackbird Studios. Before Beartooth took the stage however, fans were treated to performances from opening acts Dead American, Hands Like Houses, and Of Mice and Men.
Dead American kicked the night off by performing songs like “Ants and Pawns” and “False Intentions” which got the crowd raring and ready to go. As lead singer Cove Reber [former lead singer of Saosin] interacted with the crowd and exhibited genuine excitement to be back in a city that he “never thought he’d be back in again.” As Dead American’s set wound down the lively energy continued; as Australian-rockers Hands Like Houses stormed the stage with their latest hit off Anon, “Monster.” Even though their set didn’t last long [only 5 short songs], it was clear fans were vibing with the energy and music of HLH. As Hands Like Houses’ set reached its apex, the Cannery Ballroom began to fill with throngs of fans. All of which had arrived just in time to witness legendary metalcore rockers Of Mice and Men take the stage.
Of Mice and Men’s set list consisted of an immense variety of songs; yet a majority of them were off of their 2018 release “Defy.” An album which grapples with the familiar human emotion of hopelessness and how one can go about discovering their own inner strength amongst the darkest of times. A subject which clearly resonated with the crowd in Nashville; as fans clung to the barricade and screamed the lyrics at the top of their lungs. Clearly, Of Mice and Men made a positive impact upon their fans by encouraging them to dig deep within themselves and uncover what makes them “unbreakable.” By the end of OM&M’s set, only one artist remained, Beartooth. From passing conversations around the venue, I could sense that tonight was much more than watching an artist perform. Instead, for many individuals, it was a night where they could release their inner demons; a cathartic exorcism, as Beartooth’s latest album “Disease” tackled subject matter that was personal to everyone in the room.
“Disease” released via Red Bull Records on September 28th, 2018, was Beartooth’s “make or break album;” as Caleb Shomo put it, “It all came down to this album. Everything I had bottled up was released in this album.” If you aren’t aware, Caleb Shomo is incredibly upfront and personal about his struggles with mental illness, both in the press and on “Disease.” Which explains why the album is such an intimate album for the band and fans alike. As “Disease” was one of the primary catalysts in helping Caleb realize “that no matter how I feel, or how others feel about me. That does not mean in any way that I am weak, small, or worthless.” By being upfront and personal, the need for words dissipated; as Beartooth let the album speak for itself.
By the end of the night, it was clear the excitement was valid; as The Disease Tour Pt. II ended up being a night of high-energy music and cathartic release. As artists and fans confronted their demons and lifted each other up. As Beartooth encouraged each and every individual in the room to speak up and “stop being quiet;” and instead take the moment to talk to someone “and discover who they are outside of their own body.”
If you or someone you love is struggling with depression please reach out via 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or online at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/.
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