Worlds Away Tour Featuring Falling Through April with special guest Hazen on Friday, September 23rd, the Acadia Bar and Grill was the place to be in Houston. Falling Through April and Hazen brought the house down. Of course, this is to say nothing of supporting acts 5Fifteen, Bullethead and A Nightmare From Texas, all of whom brought their own special magic to the evening’s festivities.
Opening the show was Houston’s own hard rock band A Nightmare From Texas. Formed in 2016, the band has their own brand of raw rock energy. That energy was infectious – the audience enjoyed every minute of their show. Each member equally talented, the band will certainly be one to watch on the Texas music scene and beyond.
Lineup:
Kathleen McDowell Takahashi – Lead vocals
Mitchell Almonte – Rhythm guitar, vocals
Anthony Padilla – Lead guitar
Logan Herzog – Drums
Austin Dickerson – Bass
Next to grace the stage was Bullethead, a trio playing headbanger music from Montgomery, Texas. The members of this band have only been together since October of 2021, but make no mistake – this band knows how to rock, and are no strangers to the stage. In their short time together, they’ve managed to appear all over Texas and cut a six track EP called Melting Pot. Lead guitarist Jake Bednarsky builds guitars and participates in the community when not playing in the band, and was recently highlighted on one of Houston’s major news outlets. Griffin McClain pounds the bassline without a sweat, and drummer Ben Wozniak is both talented and a central and very entertaining figure. Having said all that, if Bullethead is ever in the lineup, don’t miss them. This group of young musicians are absolutely old souls when it comes to their music, demonstrating talent far beyond their years. When they opened the set with Mountain’s “Mississippi Queen” with the same bluesy yawing as the original, I heard greatness in the making. I wasn’t alone; I think everyone at the club, some of whom were playing pool and chatting, stopped to take notice. Don’t take your eyes of this band, because if they continue on their current path, they will one day make Texas proud on the national and international stage.
Lineup:
Jake Bednarsky – Lead guitar, vocals
Griffin McClain – Bass
Ben Wozniak – Drums
Setlist:
1) Mississippi Queen (Mountain cover)
2) Stoneman
3) 2020
4) Bulls
5) Skin and Bone
6) Sweating Bullets
7) Uncanny
8) Tomahawk
9) Himalayan
The final Texas band to round out the openers were 5Fifteen, a national alternative metal band from Houston. Formed in 2018, the band played their first show opener for Saving Abel, and have also opened for the well-known Powerman 5000. The band has two EPs under their belt, debut EP Dreamcatcher and in 2021, they released the EP Revive. 2022 has seen the release of the single “Why” and of a video for the song “Transform”.
The official opener for Falling From April on this tour is Hazen. Hazen is an alternative metal band formed in Phoenix, AZ. They have the stage with bands like Godsmack, Escape The Fate, Adelitas Way, Gemini Syndrome, Rivals, New Years Day and Dollskin, so I knew I was in for a treat. Of course, the show was absolutely amazing. From the moment they began, the incredible energy this band brought was completely off the charts. Kayla Hazen’s beautiful, melodic voice was intoxicating, and her stage presence unmatched. Purposefully switching between two separate microphones to ensure she had the exact sound she needed and wanted, she mesmerized everyone unceasingly. Guitarist Dillon Mills brought musical finesse and movement to the trio, and Bassist Robbie Daze’ stage antics and attitude, as well as her steady an lyrical bassline kept the crowd begging for more. Hazen is an absolute YES on your list of must-see, touring bands.
Lineup:
Kayla Hazen – Lead vocals
Dillon Mills – Lead guitar
Robbie Daze – Bass
Setlist:
1) Criminal
2) Undone
3) Perfectly Sick
4) This World Is Mine
5) Numb (Linkin Park cover)
6) This House
7) The Storm
8) My Fire
9) Waterfall
After a short intermission, it was finally time for Falling Through April. I was fortunate enough to catch their second show of the tour, and the excitement from the band and the fans was palpable. It’s not surprising. The band has amassed a significant touring resume, having opened for Theory of a Deadman, The Pretty Reckless, Pop Evil, Adelitas Way, Breaking Benjamin and more. They have also performed at major festivals including the Vans Warped Tour, SXSW and the Florida Music Festival, just to name a few.
Opening the set with the song from their most recent video, “Paralyzed” wowed the audience. Frontwoman Mikaela Salazar’s enigmatic voice and expressive style captivated the audience from that moment onward. In fact, I can’t recall one moment when the band took the energy down – not even a notch. The momentum they created at the onset held the fans’ undivided attention throughout the show, which ended with one of their most popular songs, “Over And Done”. The Worlds Away Tour is in full force, but wraps up on October 15th, so don’t delay. Both these bands will entertain and enthrall you, and are certainly worth your time.
Lineup:
Mikaela Salazar – Lead vocals
Jim Siani – Guitar
Dan Candia – Guitar, bass, vocals
Jerome King – Drums
Setlist:
1) Paralyzed
2) Better Off Alone
3) Say It Again
4) One And Only
5) Worlds Away
6) Enigma
7) Pretty Love Design
8) Desperate Measures
9) Over And Done
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Lisa is a music photographer covering shows in the Houston, Texas area. She became interested in the craft after working in the media and with live performers, and while traveling the globe as an Army officer. Lisa believes that once an image is captured, it takes on a life of its own; a life which must tell the artist’s story in a single glance.