Haste the Day and Scary Kids Scaring Kids performed 2 nights in a row at The Emerson Theatre in Indianapolis along with tourmates August Burns Red, on September 23 and 24.

Scary Kids Scaring Kids

The Scary Kids Scaring Kids set began with the suspense of a rollercoaster headed up its first hill. The energy was pulsing through the crowd but the exact reaction was still unknown.

As Tyson’s voice hit the crowd the set further imitated a rickety wooden rollercoaster. He was a little shaky and erratic with the mic and the shake carried over to the sound. However, by the time the set moved into the second song the coaster had gained stability (much like the singer’s hand) and was headed full-momentum towards giant, thrilling hills.

The keyboardist did an exceptional job of getting the crowd pumped. A highlight included the keyboard being lifted from its stand and played like a guitar in the fashion of a speed-ridden Sid Vicious.

The band truly showed its cohesiveness at this show. Each member seemed to feed off the others’ energy. The guitars were always in sync with one another and no member seemed to be more into it than another. Perhaps it was just the energy of the last night of a tour gone well, or perhaps it was because their music even gets them pumped-up.

When, later in the evening, I overheard an attendee say to Steve, one of the guitarists, “Man, I’d never heard you guys before, but that was AWESOME! I’m definitely going to check out more of your stuff.” I was not surprised.

Haste The Day

On the heels of their first full tour with Stephen Keech as the permanent new singer, Haste the Day reigned in the powerful draft horses that are their instruments. What ensued was a full-fledged trampling of the crowd’s guts and eardrums, set ablaze with breakdowns and chorus lines.

The changes within HTD have not stopped with a new singer. One change no-one can ignore is the new image. These local boys aren’t going to Carmel High School anymore. They’ve got longer hair, more tattoos, and damn! When did those muscles appear?

The most important difference is the sound. Keech has brought something different to the band – something not all-together bad. He faltered during “American Love”, one of Haste the Day’s most popular songs. His raw, unrefined scream may have taken away from the passion of the song.

However, that same rawness has brought something back to Haste the Day. Their sound has reverted to the unrestrained, raucous style they honed as teenagers, but now it’s infused with their current skill-level. Pansies get out of the pit now, please.

The night was brought to a humorous end with a few Brennan stage-dives and a line of boys in Scary Kids Scaring Kids booty shorts shakin it by the drums.

Honorable Mention:
Check-out tour mates, August Burns Red -- FUCK YEAH!