ALESANA LIVE!! | CATS CRADLE!
Photo by Chris Sturk
f28 covered the band Alesana during their tour stop in North Carolina at the Cats Cradle in Chapel Hill on August 4th. This show had some great supporting acts including A Light Divided (based out of Winston Salem NC), Picturesque (based out of Kentucky) and Veio (based out of Portland). Each supporting band brought energy and style to the show. Since Covid 19 had basically shut down 2020 music fans were excited to see live music again and especially excited to see headliners Alesana.
Alesana is a post-hardcore band based out of Raleigh North Carolina. They formed in 2004 and have been going strong since. The band’s name is derived from a street name that vocalist Shawn Mike and lead guitarist Patrick Thompsons grew up on in Baltimore. The band consist of six musicians, Shawn Mike (Lead Vocals/Guitar), Dennis Lee (Scream/Growl Vocals), Patrick Thompson (Lead Guitar), Jeremy Bryan (Drums), Shane Crump (Bass Guitar) and Jake Campbell (Rhythm/Lead Guitar).
Photo by Chris Sturk
Now let’s talk about the show!
Let me start this review off by saying this show was like going on a fast paced, energetically driven roller coaster ride with no brakes where the rides operator locked you in your chair, threw away the key and said “have fun!”. The bands performance was so incredibly electric that even Nikola Tesla himself rose from the grave and jumped in the pit! Even before the band came on stage their dedicated and feverishly devoted fanbase brought nothing but love and excitement and you could feel that energy permeate through out the venue. After the bands supporting acts left the stage, I saw people starting to creep up to the front of the metal barricade and gradually started surrounding the pit. Then the house music stopped, and the band walked on stage. People started screaming with excitement and headbanging while reaching out their hands in the hopes touching one of them. Once that first guitar note was hit, it was on, and it never stopped. The band was like a hurricane of energy on stage, each band member ran around while jumping and singing their hearts out. They played their instruments as if it was their last day on earth swinging their guitars around in a controlled and calculated style of chaos.
The bands performance was one to remember. Each band member brought their “A” game and made sure to show their fans how excited they were to be there. Some of the band’s members including Shawn Mike and Dennis Lee jumped off the stage during various parts of the performance, landing in the pit then standing on the barricade to sing with fans and embrace them. Some live performances leave you with an unforgettable imprinted memory as if they tattooed their show into your brain and Alesanas performance at the Cat’s Cradle in Chapel Hill without a doubt has done that. The fans loved the show, and for me personally it is a show that I will never forget covering. If want to experience a show that will take you for a wild ride then you need to see Alesana on tour, you won’t regret it.
Lead Photographer and Editor Chris Sturk
Photo by Chris Sturk
Photo by Chris Sturk
Photo by Chris Sturk
Photo by Chris Sturk
Photo by Chris Sturk
Photo by Chris Sturk
Photo by Chris Sturk
Photo by Chris Sturk
Photo by Chris Sturk
Photo by Chris Sturk
Photo by Chris Sturk
Photo by Chris Sturk
Photo by Chris Sturk