Photos and Writing by Kyle Ostrander
This past Thursday, two rising rock acts took over NYC as Dead Poet Society and Honey Revenge stopped by Warsaw. Currently in the first half of their co-headline U.S. tour, both bands are on the road supporting new albums. Dead Poet Society dropped their album Monarch last month, while Honey Revenge released Loving and Losing in September. Together, they delivered a show that won’t soon be forgotten.
The first headliner of the night was Dead Poet Society. Even before the band set foot on stage, the crowd let out immense cheers as the group’s backdrop, adorned with the band’s name, was hung up. Strobe lights lined the back of the stage as the band members took their spots, waving to the crowd as they entered. The heavy industrial-inspired sounds of “Hollywood on Fire”, the lead track off their new album, quickly filled the air as the strobe lights launched into bursts of red and white lights.
The 50-minute set kept the energy high, utilizing samples between songs to move gracefully from one track to the next. The band moved in lockstep with the music, jumping and dipping together before climbing onto stage risers to interact with the crowd. The group’s musicianship was also on full display, even featuring a quick but intense bass solo midway through the set. All the while, the crowd moved and moshed, even calling for an encore at the end of the set.
Closing the night were pop-punkers Honey Revenge. The stage was set in a symmetrical setup with two amps on either wing, and the guitar and bass pedalboards circling the drum kit at center stage. Ambient music played over the speakers as the group’s drummer began playing a hypnotic beat on the dark stage. The rest of the band walked on stage, with the darkness lifting as the powerful drums and technical riffs of “Technicolor”, a song from their new album, emanated from the stage. “Brooklyn! Jump with me. Let’s go!” said vocalist Devin Papadol before the song’s chorus.
Every band member was animated during the full 15-song set, rarely standing still, often hitting dramatic stances with their instruments and meeting center-stage to jam together. Papadol would often address the crowd in fun and friendly ways, making everyone feel like part of the show. “Wait a second…I thought this was a rock show? I wanna see you move and let it out on this next one!” joked the singer as the audience danced along. The group’s music morphed between vibes of DIY rock, funk riffs, and stadium-style anthems that kept heads nodding and feet moving. Several songs also featured impressive solos from guitarist Donny Lloyd, as Papadol worked the crowd.
Dead Poet Society and Honey Revenge pick their co-headline tour back up in mid-December. Until then, Dead Poet Society is on the road in the U.K and Europe, and Honey Revenge is playing a handful of U.S. dates. Full details can be found on both bands’ respective websites (Dead Poet Society ; Honey Revenge).
Dead Poet Society
Honey Revenge
