Nothing More Dominates at the Santander Arena in Reading, PA 5/29/2022

Asking Alexandria and Nothing More’s co-headline tour made a stop in Reading, PA last weekend with support from Atreyu and Eva Under Fire.  Unfortunately due to Asking Alexandria’s lead singer Danny Worsnop contracting laryngitis, they were unable to perform.  Nevertheless, the remaining three bands poured their hearts out during their performances.  

Eva Under Fire

Eva Under Fire are a vibrant five-piece band that are quickly climbing the rock charts.  The band consists of vocalist Amanda Lyberg (Also known as Eva), guitarists Rob Lyberg and Chris Slapnik, drummer Corey Newsom, and bassist Ed Gawlik III. The band gave a powerful performance to kick off the night. Amanda came bouncing onto the stage with bright aqua blue hair and decked head-to-toe in sparkling glamor. They played a total of five songs, including their new single Blow, and ending with their energetic cover of Journey’s Separate Ways.  

Atreyu

The next band to take the stage was Atreyu.  The heavy metalcore band was full of energy from the moment they began playing.  Atreyu consists of vocalist Brandon Saller, guitarists Travis Miguel and Dan Jacobs, bassist Marc McKnight, and drummer Kyle Rosa.  They played a variety of both older and recent releases, including Ex’s and Oh’s and Falling Down, and Baptized, Warrior, and Underrated.  

Nothing More

Nothing More hit the stage at about 8:45pm. Fans eagerly pushed forward to be as close to the stage as possible.  Though many people didn’t attend due to Asking Alexandria’s absence, the fans who came despite the lineup change made the show worth it.  

Nothing More is possibly one of the most energetic bands I’ve ever had the pleasure of seeing live. Jonny Hawkins nearly soared from one side of the stage to the other and kept that same level of performance through the entire show.  Nothing More consists of Jonny on vocals, Mark Vollelunga on guitar, Daniel Oliver on bass, and Ben Anderson on drums.  

At several points during the show Jonny climbed up on the infamous “Scorpion Tail” contraption that accompanies every single one of Nothing More’s shows.  “The Scorpion Tail” is a 400 pound, 14-foot-tall metal monster that can move and bend as Jonny simultaneously uses it to create electro-synth sounds. It also has additional percussions and a mic holder for Jonny to use. 

The band played a total of 13 songs, including their two latest singles Turn it Up Like and Tired of Winning.  They also played fan favorites such as Go to War and Jenny, and ended their jaw-dropping set with This is the Time (Ballast).  It was the first time I’d ever witnessed people crowd surfing at the Santander Arena. The enthusiasm of the crowd made the show even more exhilarating.  The band apologized for the absence of their tour mates, but excitedly mentioned that this was their first headlining arena show.

The night was short but definitely worthwhile. If you can, I highly recommend catching one of the remaining dates on this tour. You can find tickets here.

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