On Friday, February 2nd, 2024, I had the incredible opportunity to photograph Midwinter's first-ever headlining tour at The Foundry Concert Club, Lakewood, Ohio.
Around 5:30 PM, Midwinter was doing their sound check, and after we started brainstorming ideas for promo photos. We planned to take some photos outside, but unfortunately, my lens was not functioning correctly due to getting fogged up from the cold weather. However, we had other options, so we decided to take some stairway photos instead.
While we were waiting for the first band, Left Unsaid, to perform, we all hung out in the green room. While we were in the green room, Kody Archer expressed his gratitude for me photographing most of their shows around Cleveland. He mentioned how much they value the photos and appreciated the work I do for them.
Around 8 pm, Left Unsaid, a band from Stow, Ohio, went on to do their set.
Left Unsaid brought a lot of energy to the crowd with Cody Weber's heavy vocals instilling high-energy immediately. Weber has expressed that their songs are based on mental health struggles and his personal experiences. He explained that he was in an abusive relationship for a while which caused him to lose motivation for the one thing that he loved, which was singing.
The band made sure to interact with the crowd and even took a few minutes to encourage everyone to check out the other bands that were performing that night. When it was time for them to leave the stage, Weber gave his Ghostface hat to a young fan, which made the young fan very happy.
The second band that performed was Vexatious from Detriot Michigan
This heavy metalcore band encouraged everyone to start a mosh pit during their entire set. Many of the fans who attended this event were hyped by the singer, Nathan Benjamin. During his performance, he got into the crowd and moshed with the people around him, not just once but countless times.
During the show, Benjamin was very interactive with the crowd. He even gave fans, including Weber, a fist bump at the end of the show. However, it wasn't just Benjamin who was interacting with the audience; the entire band was getting involved by encouraging the fans to start a mosh pit.
The 3rd band that played that night was Dreamwalker from Cleveland, Ohio.
I recently attended a Dreamwalker performance for the second time and it was absolutely amazing. Dreamwalker is a heavy metal band that hails from Cleveland, Ohio. Their performance was a true spectacle to behold - the sound of the guitars, the energy of the drums, and the passion of the vocals all came together to create an incredibly immersive and unforgettable experience. Before the band began playing their set, the lead singer, Robert Brown, addressed the crowd and mentioned that they had just released new Valentine's Day merchandise. The fans were beyond excited about this, and many people could be seen wearing the band's new shirts and hoodies. As the band started playing their music, the crowd erupted into a frenzy. Fans were singing along to the lyrics, moshing around, and generally having a great time. The atmosphere was electric, and you could feel the excitement in the air. Towards the end of one of their songs, Brown encouraged everyone to form a wall of death, a common occurrence in heavy metal concerts where the crowd splits into two halves and then runs at each other when the music drops. Unfortunately, I got distracted during this time and ended up being shoved into the side of the stage. I hit my knee hard, causing it to bruise right away. Despite this, I was still excited to finish taking photos of the show.
The 4th band that went on was Engrave a heavy metal band from Detroit, Michigan
Engrave began their show with flashing lights and sirens, sparking cheers and screams from the crowd before they officially began their set. During Engrave's set, the lead singer, Brad DiLorenzo, took a moment to express his gratitude towards his good friends from Midwinter, who were headlining the tour that night. He mentioned how happy he was to be sharing the stage with them and how much he appreciated their friendship and support. This gesture of kindness and camaraderie was well-received by the audience, who cheered and applauded in response.
When DiLorenzo started singing "Alive," he made sure to involve the fans, and many of them screamed throughout the song. Engrave ensured the fans were hyped up for Midwinter's set after the show ended.
Lastly, the band Midwinter, from Cleveland, Ohio was next
Before Midwinter started playing, the band members - Kody, Max, Billy, and Zac - stood in front of Rob's drum set. The stage was dimly lit, and the only source of light was the flashing lights that illuminated the stage. The audience was eagerly waiting for the band to start playing. The band members looked focused and ready to perform. Suddenly, the flashing lights stopped, and at that moment, the band started playing their music. The audience cheered as the band members began to play their instruments with great energy and enthusiasm. The music filled the room, and everyone seemed to be enjoying the performance.
As I was capturing photos at Midwinter, I suddenly spotted the opportunity to take the perfect shot that I had been striving for. It was when Billy's unexpected tumble brought him down to the ground, that´s when I realized that this was the moment I had been waiting for. Without wasting any time, I hastened to the other side of the stage, eager to get the perfect angle. Having photographed many of their shows, I could feel the adrenaline rush coursing through my veins as I finally managed to snap the shot I had been chasing. The thrill of success was indescribable, and I felt a deep sense of satisfaction knowing that I had finally captured that elusive moment.
Midwinter's first-ever headlining tour was simply phenomenal! Their impressive stage design, exceptional musicianship, and captivating vocals were a testament to their immense talent and unwavering dedication. It was clear that they had put in countless hours of hard work and preparation to deliver a performance that was nothing short of phenomenal. The energy in the room was electric and the crowd was completely immersed in the moment from start to finish. I do not doubt that Midwinter will continue to exceed expectations and leave their audiences spellbound. I eagerly anticipate their future endeavors and can't wait to see what they have in store for us next!
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