Text by Stephanie Souza
Alesana is one of those bands that has always divided opinions, either loved or hated. Their sound may not please everyone, but it was definitely enough to leave a mark on many fans who have never stopped consuming everything they've done in their 20-year career. In fact, that's the reason for the tour: to celebrate the band's lifespan. The genre is almost impossible to define, a mix of post-hardcore, metalcore, and screamo. Lyrically, it features numerous references to poetry and literature. With vocals alternating between clean and screamed, heavy and melodic instrumentation, and chaotic guitar work, Alesana presents a very positive and intense body of work.
The show, which took place on the 27th in São Paulo, featured opening acts by two Brazilian bands: There's No Face , who just released the album CONTRA/SENSO , and Sea Smile , with their latest album Vortex . The shows were well-rounded, high-quality, but with a moderate reception from a still somewhat timid audience, who applauded and helped out during some songs but held back for the main band. Even so, this didn't prevent a mosh pit from forming and starting the great chaos that would follow.
Alesana started the show with the opening theme from Space Jam . Yes, the 1996 movie. And immediately followed it up with the classic “Ambrosia,” from the album On Frail Wings of Vanity and Wax (2006). It didn't take much for the audience to open up a huge mosh pit that, incidentally, would last all night. The show continued with “Beautiful in Blue,” “The Murderer,” and “Hand in Hand With The Damned.” The setlist, being from an archive tour, encompassed the band's entire discography, with a greater focus on the acclaimed The Emptiness, a watershed album for the band in the last decade.
The heat was so intense at Carioca Club that the walls were sweating, but that didn't stop the atmosphere from calming down. The crowd was ecstatic, many were jumping and shouting; in fact, it was almost impossible to stay still. "The Thespian" was one of those breathtaking moments. The song is one of Alesana's biggest hits, and the fans gave their all, shouting every word of this chaotic rock opera.
The band seemed to be having a lot of fun, joking around on stage and chatting (perhaps too much) with the fans. They took photos, made videos: it was palpable that it was a sincere exchange. Towards the end of the show, "Annabel" opened the breathtaking sequence of final hits, followed by "The Curse of the Virgin Canvas" and "Congratulations, I Hate You". In the meantime, a fan gave some Magic: The Gathering to vocalist Dennis Lee , an avid collector, who was delighted with the gift. "Apology," the band's biggest hit, ended the performance, but the night wouldn't end without a big surprise: Shane Crump , the bassist, came down from the stage and joined the fans in the middle of the crowd. A huge mosh pit formed around him as the night ended in a very special way.
The band cried as they said goodbye to the audience, who embraced this return to Brazil with immense reciprocity. The performance has a nostalgic tone but also finds its place in 2024 by proving that the scene is more alive than ever, even if it's a few years older. Alesana exceeded all expectations in a show as individual as their sound.
Our contributor Marcela Lorenzetti captured the show with exclusive photos that you can see in the gallery below.
