Venue:
The Riverside Municipal Auditorium, located in Riverside, CA, has a beautiful architectural style blending Mission Revival and Spanish Renaissance Revival. The staff were friendly and had numerous bartender stations throughout the inside and outside of the venue. There is a large courtyard for ticket holders to mingle and a large balcony area that overlooks the courtyard. Both large areas allow fans to smoke, but due to the size, it doesn’t make it uncomfortable for non-smokers. Since the venue is right in downtown Riverside, there are numerous options to park, grab a bite, and have a drink before walking down to the concert. My friend and I visited a Prohibition-era–themed restaurant and whiskey bar — a classic yet contemporary venue called ProAbition. We had several beers and were lucky to receive a free appetizer on the house from their chef.
Music:
The bands Harm's Way and I Promised the World opened up the show, although it was a shame the floor didn’t really fill up to see them perform. Harm's Way’s metallic hardcore sound reminded me of the days watching shows at the Showcase Theatre in Corona, CA, growing up. They played favorites such as “Human Carrying Capacity” and “Become A Machine”. I Promised the World closed with two of the most memorable songs from their set, “Tears On The Moon” and “02”.
Once Deafheaven hit the stage, the 2,500-capacity floor packed in fans who were eager to experience the new album live, as the band intentionally crafted the songs to translate powerfully on stage. Unfortunately, the sound was off for the majority of their set. While Deafheaven’s performance was tight, the sound mix leaned too heavily on the drums, causing the vocals to get lost beneath the blast beats. After the fifth song, they performed “Heathen”, which appeared to correct George Clarke’s vocals. The next three songs sounded great, but once the interlude “Incidental II” ended, the drums once again overpowered the sound. At the Belasco show in April, George’s vocals were centered and given a bit more volume to stand out clearly over guitars, bass, and drums. His vocals are some of the best around — a sound to behold — so it was kind of a letdown that there was a mixing imbalance. That said, it happens, and it’s nothing to take away from the band’s performance. Honestly, George brings so much stage presence and emotion throughout their set that I still felt a connection to the band and their music.
Deafheaven setlist:
01. Incidental I
02. Doberman
03. Magnolia
04. Brought To The Water
05. The Garden Route
06. Heathen
07. Amethyst
08. Worthless Animal
09. Incidental II
10. Revelator
11. Dream House
12. Winona