The Portland sky had been a constant source of dreary monotony for what felt like an eternity. But finally, the gray season passed, and on Tuesday, the sun burst through the clouds, and I seized the opportunity to break free from the gloom and headed downtown to the Roseland Theater for the Manic Tour by Wage War. As I made my way across the Burnside Bridge, the sun began to set behind the iconic White Stag, creating a scene straight out of a movie.
Wage War is embarking on their Manic Tour across the country, promoting their latest album of the same name. Joining them on the road are nothing,nowhere, and the brutal force of Spite. The diverse range of metal sub-genres kept the lineup fresh and exciting, with the energy level only increasing as the night progressed, like a DJ ramping up the tempo in a packed dance club.
The Manic Tour
Spite roared through their twenty-minute set like caged lions. Their music was unapologetically brutal and best described through onomatopoeia, from the masterful ta-ta-ta-tas to the mighty booming bang-bang-bangs. With a pig squeal here, a banshee scream there, and rum-tum-tums everywhere, I tried to maintain my professionalism, but the temptation was too great. During “Kill or Be Killed,” I surrendered to the wild energy of the crowd and joined the Spite Cult in the pushpit. With camera in hand, I became fully immersed in the therapeutic power of extreme music, dancing and getting bruised, feeling a sense of belonging, and smiling all the while. It was a moment of pure abandon, a release from the mundane constraints of everyday life, and I was grateful for every second of it.
Twenty minutes later, nothing,nowhere took the stage. I had never heard of this performer, but he is popular with over 1.6 million monthly listeners on Spotify and a fresh release called VOID Eternal, which features prominent metal musicians like Ramos from Lorna Shore.
The set was expertly performed, and it was clear that the band had rehearsed extensively. The crowd fully engaged with the performance, and the band enjoyed the attention. With nods to the early 2000s, the band’s songs reminded me of Warped Tour, with apparent inspirations from bands like POD and Limp Bizkit.
The songs were catchy and relatable, and the frontman and musical mastermind behind nothing,nowhere, Joseph Edward Mulherin, commanded the stage with his dominant presence.
“Do the Fortnite dance!” he exclaimed to the crowd, tastefully flossing across the stage before starting a hoedown with his song “TRAG3DY.”
The people had their cigarettes and fresh beer cups in preparation for Wage War’s set. The audience had become a crowd, and the crew was fiddling with an air suppression system, which suggested a grandiose display to come.
Wage War started the set with a cinematic introduction. An Optimus Prime voice and flashing red lights made a countdown into their sledgehammer of the song “Relapse.” It blew wonder and disbelief over the crowd.
Wage War paraded their best killers one after another, rocking over their backing track with well-placed synth lines and low bass wobbles. The band impressed me with multiple singers, but compared to nothing,nowhere, their live performance felt like it lacked an outright leader and could use more personality. However, Wage War’s songs were the best that night. Their ballads, such as “Gravity,” showed their musical dynamic.
The Manic Tour proved to be a night of diverse metal sub-genres, intense performances, and pure abandon. Spite, nothing,nowhere, and Wage War all delivered expertly performed sets that kept the crowd engaged and entertained. The power of extreme music to unite and provide an escape from the mundane constraints of everyday life was palpable, and the Roseland Theater was the perfect venue to host such an unforgettable night. As the concertgoers spilled out onto the streets of Portland, they carried with them the memories of a night filled with explosive energy, camaraderie, and, above all, the therapeutic power of music.
