By photojournalist Allison Davis
My journey brought me to the Tampa Orpheum last night for a show fueled by the kind of chaos and energy that, while it still fuels me, I’ve learned to watch from a safe distance. While they weren’t the headliners, White Reaper has been on my “must-see” list for a long time. Walking into the Orpheum always reminds me of a club I frequented as a teenager back in Reno called the Fallout Shelter the place that brought in bands like The Swinging Utters and AFI back in the beginning. It’s the same vibe, though the Orpheum definitely has more square footage to work with.
One of my priorities as a photographer is knowing the bands before I arrive. While I’m typically shooting within my own musical realm, as photojournalists, we occasionally encounter acts that are new to us. Last night, those were SPY from San Francisco and Public Opinion from Denver.
I knew 100% what I was getting myself into. I arrived fully prepared to be on high alert, ready to protect my gear at all costs. The crowd was wild for every single band; stage diving and a heavy pit were clearly on the agenda, and the night didn’t disappoint. Public Opinion and SPY pumped up the room with a hardcore-punk energy that acted like a splash of gasoline, turning a spark into a full-on blaze. Hardcore bands from the West Coast have a distinct feel of familiarity in that explosive state of mind kind of way, and the East Coast acts like Drug Church have that I don’t mess with me or I’ll give you a fat lip kind of vibe both of which I can appreciate. Does anyone know what I mean here? It’s a sound that makes people want to explode out of the mundane of their daily lives and straight into the pit to vent their frustrations. Seeing the crowd’s reaction is like seeing the music rendered in 3D. I felt that old urge to jump right in, but the wisdom of age reminded me to keep that energy internal and capture the moments only through my lens.
White Reaper was up third, and they were the band I was most anxiously awaiting. I’ll admit, I had the “one of these things is not like the other” song playing in my head (which I know you just sang) because their style is so different. However, the minute they hit the stage, that thought vanished. They were welcomed with open arms and brought their own specific magic to the room.
Interestingly, though they’re from Louisville, Kentucky far from any coastline their music transports me back to the way life felt spending time in Huntington Beach. It’s a feeling I can’t fully put into words; it’s just about the way it evokes a certain response in my brain. They are one of those rare bands whose live performance sounds just as good, if not better, than their albums. That might seem like a given, but believe me, it’s not the case for everyone. Needless to say This in fact is a band that I personally think you should give a listening to if you haven’t jumped on that train yet.
Drug Church headlined the tour, and for good reason there is no way the crowd would have had the stamina to survive the other bands had Drug Church gone first. Vocalist Patrick Kindlon immediately set the tone, making it clear that no one should be standing around. Stage diving and moshing aren’t just allowed; they’re expected. The band literally shares the stage with the audience, inviting people up and often taking stray elbows just like the rest of us.
Despite the ensuing chaos, it was great to see the sense of camaraderie. The band made sure everyone knew they were on the same team. At one point, Patrick mentioned every other band on the bill, ensuring they were celebrated, and even noted that while White Reaper might not have “fit” the genre mold, he was incredibly thankful they agreed to the tour.
People walked out of the Orpheum with black eyes and a few likely needing stitches which, in this scene, means it was a successful night. It was the perfect conclusion to the Florida leg of the tour. I managed to find a nice little spot to tuck myself away to get the shots, but I think I’ll be toning it down just a little bit for tonight’s show.
