We Are The Fallen
May 03, 2010
Atlanta, GA – Center Stage Theater
We Are The Fallen were in town opening for Love Metalers HIM and supporting their upcoming debut album “Tear The World Down” so I jumped at the opportunity to see them. We Are The Fallen is a band that consists of Ben Moody, Rocky Gray and John LeCompt (formerly of Evanescence), former Methods of Mayhem bassist Marty O’Brien and lead singer Carly Smithson (a former American Idol contestant). I went to this show knowing no more than the fact that 3 of the guys were formerly in Evanescence. Hell, I didn’t even know that Carly Smithson was on American Idol. In all honesty, I’m glad I didn’t because I hate that show and I have a feeling that I may have gone in biased. I didn’t know a single song by them so I was going in with a completely open mind and clean slate. I had heard the band getting compared to Evanescence yet the only similarities I can see are that 3/5 of the band were in Evanescence and they have a female singer. Yeah, some of the songs are somewhat reminiscent of Evanescence but what do you expect when you’ve got Ben Moody (primary Evanescence songwriter) in the band?
Right off the bat, I was impressed and taken in by just how much of a class act and how professional they were. The band took the stage before an impossible to please audience of emo Love Metalers with a strong sense of confidence, not to be confused with arrogance. Their confidence wasn’t arrogant at all. I could literally feel the excitement the band was feeling when Moody just yelled at the top of his lungs and the band tore into “Burn” from their upcoming debut “Tear The World Down.” Lead singer Carly Smithson seized the moment and owned the stage like a seasoned veteran as the band played flawlessly and exuded relentless energy and a shared excitement to be performing. This right away drew me in and had me not just excited to be seeing them perform but excited for them as well.
The band performed a cover of Madonna’s “Like A Prayer” which managed to turn some heads in the audience but it was the first single “Bury Me Alive” that really blew me away. They performed that song with so much drive and energy as if they were trying their hardest to make a splash in this stagnant audience. It was so melodic and as corny as it sounds, intensely beautiful. As they slayed song after song, I just became more and more impressed with their ability to put on such a high quality live performance. They attacked that audience with all they had and it was showing. We Are The Fallen display a hunger that seems to be gone or never even present in most other bands. They want it and they want it bad and show no signs of letting up until everyone knows who they are. Some bands will just always be openers, a band forgotten after their 3rd annoying song and some bands are natural headliners with a desire to push the envelope and engage their audience. We Are The Fallen are without a doubt the later. The band continued to tear through song after song as if they were playing to THEIR audience and trying to own them one by one. One of the most pleasant surprises of the night was when they played the Iron Maiden classic “Flight Of Icarus” which completely melted my face off. I was so impressed with the delivery and while it was very true to the original, they really made it their own song and it really worked in the set with the rest of their songs. They brought the show to a close with “Tear The World Down” and this song just really ripped me a new one.
We Are The Fallen’s performance was both precise and focused. I don’t mean focused as in concentrating but focused as in totally in touch with the song. With each song the band interacted with each other and were obviously having a great time but the amount of discipline and focus in this band is something to see. They were literally throwing themselves into each song and performing it then and now. They were completely in the moment and making the most of each minute they were up there. It’s just such a shame that the audience was so closed off to anything but the headliner they were there to see. As I looked around, I could see song by song that they were connecting with people but for the most part, these kids were just stonefaced and unmoved. This audience just didn’t’ seem to get what they were seeing but this was at no fault of the band. While the audience as a whole didn’t seem to be moved or engaged, I was completely floored and couldn’t believe that more people weren’t as moved by this performance as I was. I would love to see them on a REAL Metal tour with bands like Lacuna Coil or Five Finger Death Punch where they would get to play to fans really appreciate this type of music as opposed to the sad little pool of emo kids who just looked like their day was ruined by any band that stood between them and their heroes HIM. Regardless, when We Are The Fallen left that stage, I was hooked and immediately became a fan right then and there. We Are The Fallen is a band that is making their own mark in Metal on their own terms. From the first song of their set I didn’t one time think once that they were an Evanescence clone. We Are The Fallen has managed to be band that steps completely out on their own creating melodic, heavy music and deliver it with a stage show of arena headlining proportions.
After their set, I had the pleasure of meeting the band who were all smiling ear to ear and very excited to meet any and everyone who came over to talk to them. Ben Moody and I were talking and I assured him that he had nothing to worry about as far as living in the shadow of his former band. He just smiled and gave me a big hug. I asked him what it was like to have this band out on the road. He looked at me and said, “Man, if you quote me on anything, just say that I said ‘It’s great to be back home’.” Welcome home Ben and Co. Welcome home indeed!
The Brainfart and We Are The Fallen After Their Atlanta Performance
We Are The Fallen
May 03, 2010 – Atlanta, GA – Center Stage Theater
Burn
Without You
Like A Prayer
Don’t Leave Me Behind
St. John
Bury Me Alive
Paradigm
I Am Only One
Flight Of Icarus
Tear The World Down
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