It was another exciting night at Come & Take It Live in Austin. The Florida alt-rockers Red Jumpsuit Apparatus have been touring in support of their newest album ‘The Awakening’. Along with them were the Los Angeles rockers, Rivals who also had a fantastic album release in February with ‘Damned Soul’.
This was my second time to see Rivals perform here in Austin and I was pumped for it. I eagerly waited for the band to take the stage, I knew this was going to be a show that I do not want to miss. The dark pop-rock band took the stage with energy and enthusiasm. Kalie Wolfe‘s vocals are just as good in concert as they are on an album track. There is a certain vibe that comes with their performance that gets the soul moving. The band members bounced off each others energy and kept the crowd hyped. They played several tracks off of their newest release like “Over It”, “Low” and “Damned Soul”. There was also a moment when Wolfe dedicated the track, ” To Leia” to her daughter for Mother’s Day. They closed out their set with their track “Moonlit”. I’m already looking forward to seeing them again next time they come back through Austin.
By the time Red Jumpsuit Apparatus took the stage, the venue had packed up nicely. The crowd was antsy with anticipation. Opening with numbers from their new album, the band didn’t waste any time getting the crowd into the new music. They were even teaching them the hooks so they could harmonize along with them. As they advanced through their set and began hitting the older stuff, the crowd got more active. When RJA played their 2006 hit “Face Down”, the fans took in the live performance by viewing it through their cell phone screens while trying to capture their own memories from the show. Nonetheless, if the people weren’t singing along, they were cheering the bands every move. The band demonstrated all the features that have gained them a strong fan base. Their tunes are well-crafted, their live performances are better than the record, and their gratitude for their fans is apparent. I’d definitely recommend checking this tour package out for yourself!
Red Jumpsuit Apparatus and Rivals, The Awakening Tour, is still happening with a few shows left for May then a short break before the tour picks up again in July across North America. Get out and support these bands live! Tour dates are listed below:
Words and Images by Tracy Fuller
