August Burns Red @ House of Blues Cleveland (5/2/23)
Within the first thirty seconds of the August Burns Red set starting, myself and a few other photographers were drenched in a beer that was thrown towards the stage. This would be an accurate preview of how rowdy this crowd would get during the show.
The band is currently touring for their 20th anniversary, and the lead singer Jake Luhrs has been with the band for 17 of those 20 years. I was reflecting on that last night, and thinking how much of an incredible feat that is. We hear about plenty of people staying in one office career for decades, but it is so much less common to hear about musical artists that stay with one band for so long. Especially in band form, not just solo work. I think that is very respectable. The band has released ten studio albums in the last twenty years and their latest, “Death Below”, was released in March of this year.
The show was absolutely crazy, and so much fun. Halfway through the show I wandered upstairs to view everything from a higher perspective. As I took my spot, before the start of the next song, Jake instructed everyone to open the pit up for the next one. Patiently everyone backed up and cleared a space in the middle of the floor, and the moment the beat dropped pandemonium started. It was amazing to see everyone moshing from above, it felt like a weird version of an accidental renaissance painting. Seeing a moment where everyone is in their own world, enjoying the music, moving their bodies, was so beautiful in a way.
Overall August Burns Red is a show I won’t forget, and a band I would gladly go see and photograph again given the chance.
Photos and words by: Shelly Duncan
