It’s always a bittersweet moment when a band is on their farewell tour. On the one hand, it’s a chance to celebrate all that they created in their career one final time, and on the other, there’s the ever-present reminder that this is some of their last moments with you, the fan. Welsh post-hardcore/melodic hardcore group Casey has accumulated quite the dedicated and die-hard following very quickly over the past five years. Starting it with the release of two passionate and pain-driven full-length albums, a final tour across the U.K., and now ending it all with their first and only U.S. show in Chicago. Months in the making and with some hiccups along the way, the group along with the suicide prevention organization Hope For The Day were able to bury their love in Chicago along with fans from all over the globe.
Opening up the night was solo artist Anays. Following Anays was Toronto based Rarity who immediately got the crowd moving. From start to finish, Rarity kept the energy pumping, only slowing once to have a beautiful moment with the fans and perform their track “Exhale.” Following Rarity came Chicago-based hardcore band Ghost Key, starting their set right off with a bang with their track “Downpour.” The group not only kept the crowd moving and having a good time but also left them with essential things to think about. Ghost Key is a group I love a lot; not only is their music great, but they are not afraid to discuss difficult topics in their lyrics and onstage. Covering serious issues like mental health and consent, this group is genuine and raw, and that’s what I love about them. Following Ghost Key came Better Off, a band from Nashville. Better Off was a band I was completely unfamiliar with before the show, but I fell in love with them after this show.
Following Better Off, it was finally time to celebrate Casey one last time. Through their 15-song long set, it was not only evident how much emotional outpouring and heart-wrenching cuts they’ve amassed during their career, but also how devoted the fanbase they’ve acquired have become. The one-two opening of “Making Weight” and “Phosphenes” set the scene for the evening, and by the time they began “Fluorescents,” there had already been several fans pouncing from the stage to the crowd before them. It was indeed a celebration with fans from all over the globe coming together as one to say farewell to a group that has meant so much to many over the past five years. This night was a night that almost did not go as originally intended. Due to an issue with some of the member’s visas not showing up on time, it looked as if it was just going to be Tom performing along with some friends the band had made along the way. But, thankfully, the other guys did make it to the states in time. During “Ceremony,” Weaver was joined on stage with some of those friends including Michael Mcgough of Being as an Ocean as fans screamed along to the lyrics. “Happy” and “Haze” offer a bit more of a forceful bite to proceedings. By the time we reach “Hell,” it comes as a stark reminder that this is almost the end. It’s nearly the final shovel of dirt on the grave that Casey has invited us to join them in casting on the body of their work. By the time we reached “Little Bird,” with the room being consumed by everyone roaring back “Our hearts lay on the bedroom floor / One was mine, but both were yours,” the burial is over. While Casey may no longer be performing, they will never leave the hearts and minds of all the dedicated fans. As they say in their song “Ceremony,” “your love will make a museum of me, yet.” Fans will forever make a museum in their hearts for Casey.
