AFI Are The 'Death Of The Party'

Davey Havok of AFI performing at the Hollywood Palladium, LA by Jacob Alvarez

NIGHT ONE OF TWO SOLD OUT HOLLYWOOD SHOWS ON THE ‘BODYS’ TOUR

To preface, I was on the way to this show when my friend reached out with news of Taylor Hawkins, drummer of Foo Fighters and overall just an amazing talent. His passing silenced the car ride, and I just sat in thought about how I have yet to see the Foo Fighters, and now will never get to experience the magic he brought to the music world. I urge everyone to see the music you love now rather than later. Musicians are people at the end of the day, fighting their own demons and living their own lives to the best of their abilities regardless of fame, money, and status. My thoughts and love go out to his family, both kin and those who make the Foos who they are today.

AFI was a first for me as well. Having grown up listening to their albums Sing the Sorrow and Decemberunderground, they’ve always held a special place in my heart. I wouldn’t say I’m huge of the emo, hardcore music scene but this band made a fan out of me very early on. It’s hard to imagine that AFI was founded in 1991, celebrating 30 years of music in 2021 with their latest release, Bodies. Although the LP dropped in June of last year, the accompanying tour began right here in California last night.

The Hollywood Palladium ran with a singular line of fans dressed in mostly all black, speaking of their excitement to get inside. The shirts ranged from The Cure to Misfits to Sisters of Mercy to tie-dye AFI bootlegs being sold right outside. This was definitely a preview of what’s to come at the When We Were Young Fest in October, which AFI is also on the bill.

(Left to right): Hunter Burgan and Adam Carlson of AFI performing at the Hollywood Palladium, LA by Jacob Alvarez

I grabbed my credentials and hung around the rest of the press circle, waiting for out time to take to the stage. It was genuinely meaningful to see all the fans come out for a band that reminds me of my childhood a great deal. Once it hit 9PM, we all made our way to the photo pit where fans were hanging onto the barricade, chanting lyrics from “Strength Through Wounding.” “THROUGH ARE BLEEDING, WE ARE ONE,” the crowd shouted in unison up until the band took to the stage.

The lights fell dark with the crowd screaming wild while the stage filled with black and red lighting. Founding member and drummer Adam Carlson walked to his kit with longstanding members Hunter Burgan and Jade Puget taking their respective spots. Bass and strobes would begin striking the audience, where I observed Burgan’s bass pedal vibrate as if it was experiencing an earthquake. Lead singer and other founding member Davey Havok walked in a robotic manner to face the drum set, where the band broke into the previously chanted track off 1999’s Black Sails in the Sunset.

Davey Havok of AFI performing at the Hollywood Palladium, LA by Jacob Alvarez

From there on, the set was reminiscent of watching a WWE match during its “attitude era.” The band followed with heavy hitter “Girls Not Grey” which saw Havok begin to leap from speaker to speaker, taking to the drum kit to perform tall jumps in tandem with the beat. Fan favorites like “17 Crimes” and “Love Like Winter” brought the nostalgia factor while fresh Bodies tracks were debuted for fans.

Of course, towards the end of the set, the band performed Guitar Hero III featured track “Miss Murder” and the outdo to it sounded pitch perfect. The fans quickly ate it up, with many being escorted back into the pit after crowdsurfing over the barrier. Another favorite “Silver and Cold” brought Havok to the fans, with dedicated moshers keeping him lifted while he screamed “YOUR SINS INTO ME.” It was reminiscent to one of the best live shows I ever attended, Cage the Elephant. AFI debuted “Tied to a Tree” off Bodies to end their set before coming out for an encore. They played “Totalimmortal” off their 1999 EP All Hallow’s E.P. with longtime fans beginning another pit. The quick track ended with the band concluding their first live show since they released Bodies.

Davey Havok of AFI performing at the Hollywood Palladium, LA by Jacob Alvarez

The set felt a bit on the shorter side, with 18 songs being played, but I understood that night two might feature other classics such as “Bleed Black” and “Summer Shudder” which is exciting for those attending. The fans who are also going to the second show will be treated to an altered set I’m sure. Although I would have loved a few more tracks and Cold Cave opening, this was a great live show for a band that has drifted between punk and emo rock to alternative in their three decades of music making. I’ll be front and center for their return in October based on tonight! Check out the set list here!

PS: Check out our gallery of photos from the performance!