Written from the photo pit by someone who still hasn’t recovered from the goosebumps.
Hell at The Masquerade lived up to its name on July 15th, but it wasn’t fire and brimstone. It was the raw burn of sweat, emotion and sound that left the room blistered in the best way possible. Four bands. One stage. And a crowd that gave everything right back.
Dead Eyes kicked off the night, and honestly? They were the perfect spark to ignite the fuse. As the room filled, their energy made it impossible to stand still. I had barely gotten my lens cap off before people were already throwing stank faces like candy. “Good Die Young” and “Better Off” hit like a sledgehammer in a velvet glove. It was clear these guys knew exactly what they were doing. The crowd came alive, arms in the air, screaming lyrics like they’d been waiting their whole life for that exact moment.
Then came Rivals, and let me just say, holy hell. I don’t know if there are words strong enough for what she did to that room. You couldn’t look away even if you tried. The way she owned the crowd, moved through the fog, and sang with her whole damn soul? Whew. By the time they ripped into “Dark Matter” and Lavender’s,” the room had shifted. Everyone was locked in. It felt like something holy and haunting at the same time. Kalie set the whole place off, commanding, magnetic, and absolutely untouchable.
Of Virtue entered the night with that signature combination of aggression and melody. They came in swinging with “Omen” and “Hypocrite.” The band knew they were following a stacked lineup, and they leaned into it, feeding off the momentum that had been building all night. It was powerful, cathartic, and loud enough to shake off whatever ghosts were still hanging out in the corners of the Masquerade.
By the time Archers took the stage, the energy in the venue was nearly combustible. The floor was vibrating under my boots. I’ve never seen a band step into a moment like they did. “Never Enough” had everyone screaming the words like a gospel. The unity in the room was unreal. This was the set people came for. They didn’t disappoint. And then there was that moment.
The lights dimmed, the opening chords of “Before you go,” floated through the air, and suddenly like magic, phones lit up the crowd like a sea of stars. It looked like Christmas came early in the underworld. I literally felt chills crawl down my spine while clicking my shutter. Pure connection. One of those rare moments where music, light, and human emotion collide in a way that freezes time.
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