Nov 1, 2023

A Parent's Perspective "BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE, OF MICE & MEN" (SHOW REVIEW)

This fall, screamo giants BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE are set to embark on a North American trek with support from OF MICE & MEN and VENDED.

The tour kicked off in Montreal, QC this past October hitting major cities including New York, Kansas, LA, Philadelphia, Houston TX, and wrapping up at the Hard Rock venue in Orlando FL.

The tour landed a date in my home city of Pittsburgh, PA at one of my favorite city venues Stage AE and I was fortunate enough to go and check out the tour firsthand.

OCTOBER 17TH, 2023 PITTSBURGH, PA: Bullet For My Valentine rolled into STAGE AE, in Pittsburgh, PA on their self-titled North American Tour. I can never say enough about Stage AE. During the summer months it serves an outdoor venue with a lawn area, and in the brutal winter months has this amazing indoor venue with a balcony, VIP seating, and bar.

VENDED took the stage first. My first time seeing this band that I've heard so much about. Fronted by Griffin Taylor, the son of Slipknot's Corey Taylor, I knew I was going to be in for some heavy-hitting music. For any fan of the band Vended, they're probably sick of hearing by now that Griffin sounds a lot like his dad, especially from the early "Iowa" album days, and this is definitely true. The metal bloodline runs thick in the family, not just with the vicious screams and heavy breakdowns but the in-between-song banter with the crowds, mannerisms and overall sense of holding one's self onstage, the band definitely takes some tips from their metal fathers but at the exact same time holds their own as a standout band. Vended is by far one of my new favorite metal bands.

After a brief intermission, OF MICE & MEN were up next. I've only seen this band one other time at an Ozzfest nearly 20 years ago and it was great to see them. agin. The band feels like they haven't aged. The band kicked off with track Bones Exposed from their 2014 Resoring The Force record and then from there blasted through an array of fan favorites including one of mine entitled OG Loko from their 2011 "The Flood" record. The band finished their nearly hour-long, 9-track set Warpaint from their latest record "Tether" which dropped earlier this year in 2023, and closed out with Second & Sebring from 2010's self-titled album.

During intermission between bands, the PA system blasted classic rock and oldies over the radio, a nice pallet cleanser for the night's shenanigans and heavy music. BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE took the stage and kicked off the set with their 2021 single KNIVES off of their self-titled record. From the first song, fans knew they were going to get a set packed full of deep cuts and fan favorites playing tracks like singles Over It, and my personal favorite Tears Don't Fall before wrapping up with classic deep cut favorite Suffocating Under Words of Sorrow and finishing the night's set with Waking The Demon from 2008's Scream Aim Fire. After an overwhelming chant of "ONE MORE SONG" from the crowd, the band returned on stage for an encore playing Hearts Burst Into Fire from the aforementioned Scream Aim Fire record.

Bullet For My Valentine are currently on tour with Of Mice & Men and Vended.

You can check out a full gallery of photos from the show plus links to the band's pages and more below!