Commentary and Photos by Lena Diamond Photography – do not use without permission

Anytime I hear that Circa Survive is going to be in Ohio I become incredibly ecstatic, even though I have attended several of their shows. They are just one of those bands that have such a prominent stage presence that simply cannot be missed. Even if you are not a fan, you will enjoy watching them live. I thought I was not going to be able to make it to this show but thanks to my family and friends, we made it happen. That night was also my first time ever being in the pit taking photos of the bands up close and personal. Finally I had a night where I don’t have to fight the crowd to get some awesome shots. It was an incredible experience and I have learned so much about photography in just this night alone and I am excited for how much my work will continue to grow. Now, let’s get back to the music!

Columbus based indie band Afortiori opened up for Circa Survive at Newport Music Hall on August 21. Let’s just say they gained a lot of new fans that night. They just radiated so much energy and you could tell they put their absolute all into everything they did. I honestly was not expecting that from the very first band of the night. The crowd suddenly got extremely still and quiet as soon as their performance started. Afortiori had everybody’s attention. Their distinct sound definitely fit into a Circa show. Daniel Erb’s vocals have a perfect amount of indie grittiness without being over the top. Family of the band members were off to the side recording their performance and cheering them on. Hopefully this show made an impact on their fan base. It is well deserved. They only have a few songs but you can take a listen over at https://afortiorimusica.bandcamp.com/.

Ease the Medic was the next band up before Circa Survive took the stage. To be honest, they seemed to slow things down at this point of the night. I don’t know if it was because fans were simply anxious for Circa Survive to perform, but people seemed to lose interest. Their music style is something I haven’t heard in a very long time. It seemed very unfamiliar and quite difficult to understand what style they were going for specifically. It’s great that they are trying to go back to what it seems like old roots of post-hardcore and experiment with different styles, but it personally is not for me. Maybe if they had a little more interaction with each other and the audience they wouldn’t seem as though they are lacking in comparison to the other two bands. Feel free to give them a listen and find out for yourself.

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As soon as Circa Survive made an appearance on stage, the entire building was roaring with intensity. There was movement everywhere, and everyone was belting out the lyrics with all they had. Front man Anthony Green radiates such captivating energy that one gets quite overwhelmed from it but in the best way possible. It was pretty surreal to be a part of this experience. I feel as though my photographs reflect this because there was always a fantastic moment to capture. As crowd surfers flowed to the front of the stage, Anthony Green would make an attempt to take them hand in hand and sing those relatable lyrics with them. The way the band interacts with the fans is one of the most interesting moments to see. It makes you realize that they are people just like us. They have feelings that they are portraying into something positive for us and themselves.

All in all, I obviously had an incredible time both photographing the bands and just being there soaking up the talent all the bands had to offer. I am so grateful to have been a part of this experience and I cannot wait to get back out there and shoot some more. I am learning new things each day and I get better with every opportunity I have been given.  Going to these shows is such a stress reliever and it’s a time where you can forget all about your problems, even if it’s just for a night. Even if you’re not so sure about a local band in your area, go support them anyway. You will be surprised as to what talent is close to home. They all have to start somewhere.