I walked into Avondale Music Hall for the first time on October 11, 2023 expecting nothing but the best. Not only were my expectations met, but they were blown out of the park. I’ve seen Invent Animate live before, so I knew they were going to perform their absolute best, but I have not seen them as a headliner. Now, I can only see them as a headliner.
The show was a part of their Heavener Tour for their latest album, Heavener, that was released earlier this year in March. It is hands down my favorite album of theirs to date, so I was excited to finally see a full set from the band. The lineup included four bands, so I would have to wait a while before I got to scream along to “Without A Whisper,” but it was worth the wait.
Aviana, a band from Sweden, opened the show and set the bar incredibly high. Never had I seen the opening band on a bill get a crowd hyped as much as they did. It must have been a mix of the masks that some of the members wear and the accompaniment of heavy guitar riffs, to result in multiple circle pits and walls of death. Yes, a wall of death was had during the opener of a show. I honestly didn’t want Aviana to finish their set because of how mesmerizing they were, but I knew everyone else who came after would set the bar even higher.
Thrown, another band from Sweden, was up second. Just like Aviana, they got and kept the crowd hyped up. It was my first time seeing and hearing them and I did not expect to hear what I did from them. Their guttural vocals and heavy melodies had me stopped in my tracks multiple times throughout their set.
Third up was Void Of Vision, a band hailing from Australia. I was absolutely captivated by their set. Once again, I’ve never seen or heard Void Of Vision before this night but they have gained a fan for life. A little less heavy than the first two bands because of the clean vocals scattered throughout their songs, I think their placement on the bill was perfect and much-needed before our headliner. They were able to keep the crowd hyped up but also bring them back down to earth for a little while, which I thought was incredibly impressive.They had a really nostalgic vibe–something about them reminded me of 90s hardcore punk music and it fit perfectly into this show. I was left craving more of them after their set.
Lastly, Invent Animate took the stage and blew me away like they did the first time I saw them. As an audience member, seeing them feels like an intimate show experience. They make me feel so warm and create such an inviting environment every time I see them; they definitely had the same effect on the rest of the crowd. Not only do I love the intricate melodies of their songs, but I love watching them interact with their crowd and feed off their energy. I think this is a skill that ups the ante at any kind of live music show.
I found myself nodding along while I was photographing their set because they had drawn me in so much since they stepped out on stage. But I made sure to look back into the crowd a few times to see their reaction – all I saw was massive smiles, head banging and waving arms, which ultimately made the smile on my face grow wider.
Invent Animate never ceases to amaze me every time that I see them. Their infectious lyrics and melodies always find a way to make me feel lighter than I was before I walked into their show. This tour feels extremely special, not only because of the mind blowing lineup, but the energy each band brings. If you are able to see a show on this tour, you will not be disappointed.
You can buy tickets for the remaining tour dates here:
October 16, 2023 – Portland, Oregon
October 17, 2023 – Vancouver, BC
October 18, 2023 – Seattle, Washington
October 21, 2023 – Cupertino, California
October 22, 2023 – Anaheim, California
October 23, 2023 – Phoenix, Arizona
