If you are in the post-hardcore scene, you know Sleeping With Sirens. Since 2009, the band has been breaking molds and setting big standards for the music scene. With hits like “If You Can’t Hang” and “If I’m James Dean, You’re Audrey Hepburn,” they have so many songs that just stick with you and never get old. The first time I saw them live, I knew I’d be a fan for years to come. Their shows are electric, and you can’t help but yell the lyrics out loud when they sing all the best songs.
Once Sleeping With Sirens’ tour “An Ending It Itself” was announced, I knew it would be an amazing show. The tour, with openers Shyeye and Rain City Drive, was the first tour I’ve had the chance to see of theirs since 2015.
Shyeye was first to open the show. The band, reigning from Nashville, Tennessee, is led by Destiny Keller. They played their most notable songs and kicked their set off with “Falling.” I had never heard of Shyeye before this night, but their music has a grunge-type sound that’s fun to listen to, getting heads nodding and hands swaying as they previewed heavier unreleased tracks like “Threads.” They closed their set with “Knot.”
Next up was Rain City Drive. I had also never actually listened to them before, but once I saw them play, I’m definitely a fan. They played hits from “Frozen” to “Talk To A Friend.” Frontman Matt McAndrew brought incredible confidence and stage presence, effortlessly balancing beautiful melodies with witty stage banter. I noticed a lot more people in the audience warming up and singing along as they played, especially during their deeply personal track like “Neverbloom.”
Finally, it was time for Sleeping With Sirens. Something about seeing them live isn’t comparable to other bands. The energy they had was off the charts, which is great because it was a sold-out show where fans packed every corner of the venue. They opened the set with “Kick Me,” then went right into “Leave It All Behind.” Looking back at the crowd from the photo pit, nearly everybody was headbanging by this point. Kellin Quinn, frontman of Sleeping With Sirens, is like an Energizer bunny. Not staying in one place for too long and just jumping around the stage whenever he gets the chance. It truly makes the show feel so much more fun.
During the show, Quinn reflected on their history. He took a moment to share how much the city meant to them, shouting out a gig they played in their early days in San Antonio at The White Rabbit. He then went on to say, “We are not the family we are born into; we are the family we choose,” right before jumping into “A Trophy Father’s Trophy Son.” I noticed it seemed like this song had a deeper meaning than the others to a lot in the crowd, as people who hadn’t been screaming the lyrics before were now screaming them back to the stage at the top of their lungs.
A few songs later, guitarist Nick Martin hopped off the stage and walked along the barricade, then into the crowd, all while still playing guitar. It was a fun moment to see them connect with the crowd further. During the set, they also sang a fan favorite cover of the Goo Goo Dolls song, “Iris,” and the heavier song “House of Matches.”
Kellin Quinn would go on to tell a story of their past, stating, “We slept in a storage unit in Oregon in the middle of winter writing an album, and Justin made the storage unit have plastic walls heated with kerosene lamps, and I’m pretty sure the kerosene helped write one of the best records.” Then, they went on to sing one of his favorite songs off the record, “Who Are You Now.” They closed the show with “If You Can’t Hang.” It was a truly unforgettable night that showed that, even after all this time, Sleeping With Sirens still know how to deliver an unforgettable performance from start to finish.
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