The small intimate venue of the Local 506 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina found itself packed wall to wall on a Monday night when the band Riley!’s first ever headlining tour made a stop there. Having formed in 2018, Riley! has quickly grown in the past few years as a cult favorite in the current modern emo movement that is currently sweeping the alternative music scene. The tour, which is in support of the band’s newest album, “To Live and Die In the American South” brought along popular indie rockers Bugsy and NC’s own Kerosene Heights.
First up for the night was Bugsy, who delivered an incredibly energetic performance from the first note they played. As the members of the band bounded across the stage with leg kicks flying, the crowd matched the energy by jumping and shouting the lyrics at the top of their lungs. Next, to keep the energy of the evening high, was Kerosene Heights, playing their home-state show of the tour. When the band members gave the sound booth a “thumbs up” the audience roared to life and almost immediately a mosh pit began to form in the center of the room. Over the next 30 minutes, Kerosene Heights did the job of a tour opener exceptionally well while inciting non-stop stage diving and crowdsurfing. Being that it was the bands closest hometown show for this tour, many of the audience knew every word to every song that Kerosene Heights performed, which led to an awesome choir of singing for their whole set.
Once the time had come for Riley! to take their headlining spot on stage, the energy in the tiny venue could be felt in the air. As the band tuned their instruments, the anticipation from the fans grew and grew until vocalist and guitarist, Ryan Bluhm stepped up to the microphone. With crushing emotional vocals and fast-paced riffs, Riley! brought the energy of the crowd to an all time high. The stage dives and crowdsurfing continued for the entire set and not a voice was quiet the whole time. Every person in the room sang the words back to the Bluhm and cemented why the band is one to watch in the emo and alternative music scenes.
Riley! is definitely a band to keep an eye on and they will continue their rising success. Having already built a loyal fan-base and creating an unforgettable show, they show no signs of slowing down.
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