Review: Crossfade @ The Lost Horizon

Crossfade w/ Emphatic, The Black Lockets, and Just A Memory @ The Lost Horizon – Syracuse, NY (June 21, 2011)

Syracuse radio station 95X welcomed summer with a dose of hard hitting rock n’ roll that carried into the night. Just A Memory (formerly known as Augustine) got the ball rolling with their unique symphonic rock sound. The band was added to the show with a mere 24 hours notice, following the news that Adakain had to cancel, but showed no signs of ill preparation. The Syracuse natives played with an aggressive and high energy style which was tough to match throughout the evening. Joe Dimaggio’s vocals were well executed throughout the performance, and were complimented well by vocalist Leila Dean. Another highlight of their set (and the band) was the implementation of the electric violin as performed by Leila – this component really sets Just A Memory apart from the crowd.

With the crowd still in its infancy, rising stars The Black Lockets took the stage next. The band provided a different flavor of rock: a fusion of classic rock, alternative, and even a bit of pop-rock. Vocalist Dustin Hort put on a soulful performance, and seemed to gain momentum from the opening track to closing the set. Also based in Syracuse, The Black Lockets appeared to grow in confidence with each song and raised their energy along the way. Personally, the highlight of the set was when they played “New York City.” It has an edge to it that makes you want to rock along with the band. Another highlight was “Summer,” the song is infectious and you can’t help but sing along. The Black Lockets took advantage of their last performance until later this summer, and put on a solid set.

Nebraska’s Emphatic – making their second appearance in as many months at The Lost Horizon – were next up, and they made it a party. Despite experience a bit of technical difficulty with their opening song, the band put on a strong performance. Frontman Patrick Wilson is a talented vocalist, and his performance was a great example of his ability. The band as a whole is just fun to watch on stage, every member is moving and interacting with the crowd. The band opened up with a double shot of straight hard rock, and then moved into party territory with “Get Paid” and “Beg.” I have to be honest here, the “cock rock” vibe is wearing thin on me, and I’m a little surprised that Emphatic doesn’t include a ballad or two to showcase their potential. However, the band did slow it down a little with “Put Down the Drink” which was a nice change of pace. Fittingly, the band closed their set with their current single “Bounce” which had the crowd dancing and singing along.

At this point in the night, The Lost Horizon was hot and sweaty, and the crowd had reached its peak. However, it was a very disappointing peak… I’d be surprised if someone told me there were 150 in attendance. But, Crossfade gave those who were there quite a treat.

The South Carolina hard rockers had stimulating stage set-up including an array of lighting and fog to creating a dark and brooding atmosphere. The lights went out and the crowd roared to life as Crossfade took their place on stage. They opened with “Starless,” and a little to my surprise Ed Sloan was shaky in his start. But, by the time he hit the chorus he found his groove and maintained it throughout the set. This particular show happened to be on the release date of the band’s third studio album ‘Killing Me Inside’ and naturally they played a number of new songs. The new material has a darker, heavier edge than their previous work which I rather liked. The set included a mix of classic tracks and a number of new songs including “Dead Memories,” “Drown You Out,” and “We All Bleed.” Midway into the set, drummer – and newest member of the band – Mark Castillo (ex-Bury Your Dead) treated the audience to a drum solo that was showcased his technical skill. Following the solo, the band came back at full speed with their current single from the new album, “Killing Me Inside.” Crossfade slowed things down with the piano-driven and very personal “Dear Cocaine.” When I heard this song for the first time about a week ago, I wasn’t a big fan of it, but after seeing it performed live you really get a sense of how emotional and real it is. One of the high points of the set was when guitarist Les Hall melted every face in the crowd with a scorching solo, dubbed by the band as “The Experience.” That was the perfect way to describe it: an experience. Probably the defining moment of the evening – for me at least – was the performance of “Make Me a Believer,” the 10 minute epic that closes out the new album. What a track to see live! Giving the fans a chance to sing along one last time, Crossfade closed with their most well known hit, “Cold.”

At the end of the set, the band expressed their gratitude for all in attendance, and you could tell it was genuine. Although the crowd was lackluster in quantity, the quality was incredibly high. Those present were respectful, attentive, and appreciative. The guys in Crossfade acknowledged that and fed off the energy resulting in a performance to remember.

I had heard mixed reviews of their live performance, but I was truly impressed with what I saw and heard, and look forward to seeing them again soon! (Rock Allegiance Tour @ Genesee Brewery – Rochester). I only wish that more had come out to enjoy the show!

Complete setlists can be seen here: Emphatic | Crossfade