TRAPT Live Review

On July 3, 2013 some friends and I went to see the hard rock band Trapt live at Amos' Southend Bar in Charlotte, North Carolina.  I have been a big fan of the band ever since about 2002, when their music videos for  "Headstrong" and "Echo" were all over the television screen. I kept up with their progress as musicians for the most part; I had their eponymous debut album and had listened to their next release, 2005's Someone in Control, and I had become a fan of their stylistic change that was found in 2008's Only Through the Pain. These guys have always been able to channel strong amounts of emotion into their studio recordings; of course vocalist Chris Taylor Brown gives his all when belting out their lyrics of confusion, heartbreak or defiance, but the powerful guitar riffs and pounding drum rhythms really helped give the songs life. With their latest two albums, No Apologies (2010) and self-produced Reborn (2013), the band went back to their roots (and on Reborn, expanded on it) to create some of the best songs they've ever written. Needless to say, I think that it was about time to see these guys. It was also going to be my brother Devan's first concert, and my friend Stephen's first heavier band to see live. Along with us three was my lifelong friend Brandon who is a huge fan of the band like myself.

Band Photo for 2013's Reborn.

To an extent, I knew what to expect. I had seen many Youtube videos and I knew that they generally delivered high energy, solid performances. The focus of the band has almost always been on the singer Chris, so I was eager to see how the rest of the band played their parts in the live show. I knew that the band experienced some lineup changes (Atreyu's guitarist Travis Miguel stepped in for the band this year, and  Dylan Thomas Howard replaced drummer Aaron "Monty" Montgomery in 2012.) so I was a bit nervous about how they would fit into Trapt's sound. Aaron Montgomery was a phenomenal and lively drummer, and previous guitarists Simon Ormandy and later, Rob Torres, both had created memorable guitar hooks that were perfect for the band's message and aesthetic. I am glad to say that I was pleasantly surprised when I got to see how the band functioned as a unit. 

Trapt in all their live glory, playing the song "Echo".
[Brandon Mast Photography, 2013]

Trapt appeared on stage last at the show, following the hard rock outfit Candlelight Red, who did a great job preparing the audience for their arrival, along with rap-rock hellions Super Bob and radio rock band Era 9. Frontman Chris Taylor Brown asked the audience "Who's going home with you tonight?" which immediately resulted in the upbeat punk number from 2008's Only Through the Pain and an excited roar from the audience. Adrenaline was high as Chris' voice soared high above the audience, and drummer Dylan Howard produced thunderous, fist-pumping beats. Guitarist Travis Miguel and bassist Pete Charell provided for the meat of the sound, chugging away at heavy power chords with a big, thick sound reminiscent of rock peers Breaking Benjamin and Rise Against. All of this together provided for an exciting introduction for anyone watching; if anyone was getting tired at this point, Trapt sure as hell woke them up. As the band finished "Who's Going Home With You Tonight?" Chris asked the audience how they were doing and got them more pumped for the show. He then proceeded to explain the meaning of the next song and why they were performing it (2005's "Waiting") which became a ritual before each song of the night. This was especially comforting for me personally; my friends and I think that in doing this, Trapt really helped the audience connect with the true meaning behind each song lyrically rather than just with the upbeat tempos and changing song structures. As they tore through each song in their setlist, the audience seemed to get more and more into it and involved, and the band seemed to grow more lively and on-point; even more so than their in-studio counterparts.  The energy feedback from the band and the audience was vibrant; Brown said that Charlotte was "the best crowd we've had this whole tour", which was also echoed by Super Bob's frontman Matt Santoro. Highlights from the live show were Only Through the Pain's "Black Rose" and "Contagious", Reborn's "Bring It", "Love-Hate Relationship" and "Living in the Eye of the Storm", and finally during their encore, mega-hit "Headstrong" and ballsy rock behemoth "Stand Up" from their first and second albums, respectively. I would have expected that, as adventurous as the dynamics of Trapt songs are, Chris' voice would get tired but that wasn't the case; he belted every high note and held it until it rose into oblivion, and then almost effortlessly broke into the next verse. It's obvious to us that them being on the road for over ten years has definitely made them masters of the stage.

Us with vocal powerhouse Chris Taylor Brown of Trapt.
[Spencer McCoy Photography, 2013]

After Chris and the entire audience were done screaming every single lyric to "Headstrong",
my friends and I headed outside for the chance to get to meet the band. We ended up getting our wish and got to talk to each member. Travis Miguel stated that he believes that Atreyu's hiatus will end in time, so Atreyu fans should not be discouraged. He stated it was hard at first to transition into Trapt's style when he was used to the hardcore scene he had been a part of, but he did a phenomenal job live. Drummer Dylan Howard explained he had been playing for "about twenty years" which is definitely believable considering his prowess behind the kit. Bassist Pete Charell was very humble and easy-going, despite being one of the most solid live rhythm players I've seen. We explained to frontman Chris how well they all did live, and I personally told him how much of an inspiration he is to me as a musician, which he responded with a fist bump, infectious smile, and a pose with us for a photo. We were very thankful to have seen these guys live, and to later meet them; even more impressive was how genuine they are as people. All in all, it was a truly great experience, and if you are not a fan of Trapt already, they will make you one. 

 I will post a review for opening bands Super Bob, Era 9, and Candlelight Red soon.

For more information on Trapt, go to: www.trapt.com