By Marjorie-Sarah Atkinson
Staff Writer
On Tuesday, Oct. 13, three bands played to a packed standing-room-only crowd at Boston’s House of Blues. The House of Blues is a moderately sized concert venue largely made of wood paneling, with various performers’ memorabilia lining the walls.
Two post-hardcore bands, I Prevail and Crown the Empire, opened the evening, with roughly 40-minute sets for each.
Formed in Southfield, Mich. in 2013, I Prevail gained popularity with their cover of Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space,” which was posted to YouTube last December.
The band performed this cover about halfway through their set. Crown the Empire, formed in Dallas, Texas in 2010, is most well known for their first full-length album, “The Fallout,” released in November 2012.
I had listened to I Prevail’s first EP, “Heart Vs. Mind,” prior to the concert, but I hadn’t heard of Crown the Empire. I’m glad I attended this concert for many reasons, but one of them definitely is that I got a chance to discover and experience a new band that I now love.
The headlining act, rap rock band Hollywood Undead, took the stage as an ecstatic crowd welcomed them by chanting the band’s name. The band, formed in Los Angeles, Calif. in 2005, achieved popularity on the music charts with their debut studio album, “Swan Songs,” in September 2008.
They opened their segment of the concert with their second single, “Usual Suspects,” from their newest studio album, “Day of the Dead,” which was released in March of this year.
They played fan favorites from most of their studio albums throughout their performance, playing a total of 17 songs, plus two more when they returned to the stage for an encore. The show officially ended after their performance of my personal favorite “Hear Me Now.”
As this was my first concert at the House of Blues, I didn’t know what to expect, and I didn’t know anyone who had been there before either. Overall, I was impressed with the acoustics and ambiance of the venue, and the friendliness of the staff. I have attended rock concerts before in different venues, both in New York and in Massachusetts, and I am most pleased with the House of Blues.
The standing room only layout of the venue provided for a mostly spectacular view of and proximity to the bands, except for a few unlucky moments in which a tall gentleman stood in front of me and obscured my view for several songs. The coat check was priced at $5 per item, a price which may seem outrageous to some.
As a recommendation for anyone who desires to purchase tickets to the House of Blues in the future, try to avoid buying tickets for the second floor, as it is difficult to gain a decent view of the performers once it gets too crowded. If it is possible to get there early, I would also recommend finding a spot to stand along the railing lining the bars, as that provides for an excellent view of the performing acts.
All in all, I would definitely advise going to see a concert at the House of Blues. The variety of performers showcased there along with the welcoming atmosphere make for an altogether spectacular experience.
