Rustbelt Rock Review

By: Z.M. Delgado

Rustbeltrockreview.com

Volume #126: Bessemer Saints “This is BS Too” Album Release Party

feat. Inducing Panic & After The Apocalypse

March 3rd 2024

Maple Grove Tavern 14832 Pease Rd, Maple Heights, OH 44137

Good evening friends and welcome back to the Rustbelt Rock Review. This week I had the distinct pleasure of attending the album release party for Bessemer Saints new collection “This is BS Too.” With the Saints, we also got treated to the music of Inducing Panic and After the Apocalypse. I arrived at the Maple Grove shortly after doors opened and was surprised to see the expansive parking lot to be near capacity. I was fortunate to find a decent spot, though it was one of the few that remained. Taking a quick drag from my vape pen I exited the car and made my way to the door. There I encountered Shaggy and Corey of Bessemer Saints. They greeted me warmly and welcomed me to the festivities. Moving on I paid the man at the door and made my way upstairs where I was amazed to see how packed the club was. From wall to wall there were people crammed in fairly tightly. At the head of the stairs I bumped into a third member of the headlining band, this time it was their drummer, Terry. Making my way over to the merch table I found the Guitarist Tom thus completing my greeting of the entire Bessemer Saints. Sliding through the crowd I soon encountered Jimmy “The Dook” Fedor of Roxxxstarradio and Big Bri of Level Up Cleveland. We shot the shit briefly before The Dook and I took a trip outside to burn a doobie. Once that was over it was back inside where we got to talking to Eddie, frontman of After the Apocalypse. Eddie of course didn’t have much time, as his band was kicking off the show. So he left us to join his crew while The Dook and I situated ourselves center stage and waited for the show to lift off.

As I said, first to the stage was After the Apocalypse. This four piece Nu Metal band is made up of a Guitarist, Bass, Drums and a Vocalist. It is also worth noting that ATA was awarded the crown of best Metal band at the most recent Cleveland Music Awards. With the lights out creepy samples played over the PA creating an ominous atmosphere. Then suddenly the stage lit up and the set began with a savage scream. Aggressive and snarling the lead vocals raged. Right away I was impressed with the frontman’s stage presence. He was a blur of activity as he rocked out; fists in the air, head banging. Backing Vocals, provided by the Drums and Guitar, came as both clean and shouted. The Guitarist delivered hard charging, razor sharp chords that seemed to cut the very air. Their second song “Alpha Omega” had a really cool opening riff. Here again I noted about the constant movement of the singer. Now this is a common theme throughout my notes and I can’t keep repeating it. So just try to remember that if After the Apocalypse is playing, Eddie is Rockin’ out, pumping his fists, throwing out T-shirts or just raging; plain and simple. The third song, “Rapture,” came with and intense vocal performance that was bloodthirsty. There was a vicious back and forth between the lead and backing vox and it came across like a bludgeon. And speaking of bludgeons, the drummer was phenomenal. This song had some of the nastiest drumwork that I’ve heard in a while. The crowd was clearly feeling it and many chanted “Rise!” along with song. For the bands fourth offering we were treated to a new one. Entitled “Shadows” it had a melodic intro followed my some emotional chords. The Bass line was fat and throbbing; pulsing over the rhythm of the drums. The verse was rapped while the chorus held screams, as well as some clean harmonies. On “2020” hard, driving, fast, hammering drums propelled an aggressive, quick paced Vocal. On this one the singer left the stage to stalk the floor like deranged beast. Next was “False God” which had a heavy pulsing Bass line, great gang vocals and a wicked Guitar solo. The crowd lent its support to this one, shouting along on the chorus. “14 days” began with some sampled pianos then provided a nice Bass line and a powerful chorus. The crowd chanted “ATA! ATA!” urging the band on. “Pet” had some really cool drum work as well as another impressive performance on the Guitar. Closing out the set they served up “Enemy Mine” which had a lot of people dancing and headbanging all around the room. The song had a big finish and earned After the Apocalypse and huge round of applause from the grateful fans.

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With After the Apocalypse behind us, The Dook, Big Bri and I headed back outside and burned down a joint and a couple pipes. Once that was done we headed back to the stage to catch Inducing Panic. This is a 3 piece act built from Guitar/Vocal, Bass and Drums. For those of you who read RbRR #123, you might remember Inducing Panic. They are the Punk band that changes it’s style frequently switching to Death Metal and Loungecore from time to time. They opened up with a silly little number, sang in what I can only describe as a Muppet voice. This was immediately followed by a Punk number that came fast. A Death Metal song followed which I noted had some seriously tight double Bass action. The band had excellent stage presence, with both the Guitarist and Bassist throwing down. On their third number they broke into the Loungecore. Slowly strummed chords began the song, then abruptly the track switched gears and threw the tempo into high gear. It transformed into a slamming Punk song; fast, aggressive and with stomping breakdowns. This song earned a big cheer from the still growing crowd. The fourth song in the set started out very heavy then dropped into slower more melodic territory. While this played out, a drunk dude near the side of the stage tripped and fell, taking out a pile of amps and guitars. It was comical, at least to me. Not so much for the musicians whose gear just got wiped out. While the bands looked over their stuff, checking for damage, Inducing Panic was still Rockin up on the stage. Their fifth one was another Punky number. With a hammering rhythm and backing vocals coming in from the Bass, this one was high energy to be sure. 6th in our playlist came another Death Metal song. The drums really impressed me on this one, the drummer showing off some nice skills behind the kit. There was a tight Guitar solo tucked in there as well which earned a big cheer from the fans. Their 7th number was a sort of medley that began with a rendition of “I will Survive.” Next we got a pair of Punk numbers, where the Bass player was seen slapping his Bass, absolutely pounding on the strings. Their 10th song was Death Metal again and it was a beast. With a really cool riff, a sweet Bass line and some incredible Drumwork this song was right up my alley. Their final song, which I believe was called “Dumpster Pussy,” they brought it hard and fast. With incredible stage presence they went off one last time, especially the Drummer. He had some really fire fills and went wild at the songs climax, really putting a capstone on the set. The crowd cheered as Inducing Panic finished up. They said good night and invited the fans back to the merch table for some pancakes. (That’s correct. Allegedly Inducing Panic had a griddle set up and were cooking pancakes for the hungry fans.)

Back outside The Dook and I tore down another joint and mingled with the crowd of smokers. Near the door we ran into our friend Chris E. from Olathia. Hugs were exchanged as she headed in catch the headliner. The Dook and I were right behind her and we got ourselves down in front just as Bessemer Saints were beginning their opening number: “Clockout and Live.” Now for those of you who don’t know, Bessemer Saints are made up of Corey (Vocals), Terry (Drums), Tom (Guitar) and Shaggy (Bass). They play a fun loving, Blues infused Hard Rock style. The room was absolutely packed at this point. (Later I would learn the show had in fact sold out!) The fans were crammed in and happy to be so as the Saints came out swinging. They sounded excellent and brought a lot of energy to the stage. Shaggy most notably was a bonafide dancing machine as he moved behind his Bass. I made a note early on about just how “on point” Tom’s Guitar sounded. His notes were searing as they leapt from his fingers one by one. Behind the band was a large pair of pants, hung up like a flag, with the words Bessemer Saints painted down the legs. It was one of the more amusing stage banners I have seen. It reminded me that, first and foremost, the Saints are here to have a good time. Speaking of a good time, up next came the ever hilarious “Humerus Richard.” This one showed off some backing vocals from Shaggy that harmonized well with what Corey was piping out. The crowd was getting amped now and things only escalated further as the band broke out, “Like I Care.” This song was greeted with shouts and cheers from the floor. With a driving rhythm and some slick cymbal work Terry laid out the tempo with ease. This paved the way for another scorcher from Tom and some big Vox from Corey. Four tracks into the set they dropped one of my favorite songs from the new record: “Come Find Me.” People on all sides of me were dancing and singing along to the hook. I was impressed with Shaggy’s Bass work on this one, as he never seems to play the Bassline the same way twice. Instead he jams in a way that brings the notes to life and allows the piece to evolve endlessly while still holding down the core groove. It is something special to hear. On “Got to” Shaggy demanded that we drink the Maple Grove dry, consuming every available drop of alcohol. Tom was wicked on the Wah-Wah pedal as Corey crooned his need to “Fly away.” “Waste of Space” set the crowd on fire. Everywhere I looked people were getting down to this rip, roaring, good time song. Breaking into “Fortune and Fame” the dancing continued. This song is Bluesy and bouncy and really makes you want to get up and move. The Guitar solo on this one is particularly slick. In fact my notes describe it “long and gorgeous.” With a throbbing bass line and slippery licks, Bessemer Saints broke out another of my favorites: “This Dark Age.” The vocals are subdued and the rhythm nuanced and low, so it was easy to hear the whole room singing along. Corey’s voice was combustive as the song peaked. It was one of those incredible live moments that is not easy to forget. For me it was the high point of the set; pure balls and heart. The Hard hitting “Daily Affirmations” followed and it was a banger. At this point I made a note in my little book that read “I love watching this band play; each member at each instrument. Here Shaggy screamed “It’s time to boogie!” and the band dropped into the undeniably catchy “Another Night With Whiskey.” With a bouncing Bass line and monster riffs, this just about the best damn drinking song money can buy. “Find a Way” was next and it was a lot of fun. Clearly caught up in the moment, Shaggy was seen stomping about the stage. After that we got a brief band intro session followed by the devastating news that this would in fact be the “last one.” With pounding drums to kick things off, the boys dropped into “Fire Tested.” This song is a serious jam that had the crowd moving, grooving and shaking it in every direction. Throwing down one last time the action on the stage hit a new peak. Voices raised in a chorus, the crowd helped the Saints bring this one home in style. They finished up and the room erupted in applause. It was an amazing moment. In fact it was so amazing that it prompted Bessemer Saints to come together and pull out one last song for their loyal fans. Breaking into the encore, “Steak Next Time” was the chosen jam. The crowd screamed and whistled and cheered maddeningly as the party came to a climactic peak. And it was a party. The vibrations in the room were amazing. Pure positive energy permeated the space as the sold out crowd sent Bessemer Saints home with something to smile about. The song concluded and the crowd roared. The applause lasted a while and it was well deserved.

Bessemer Saints now concluded I was able to begin saying my goodbyes and inch my way toward the door. It took a while but eventually I escaped to the cool night air and began my trek home. It had been a phenomenal night. After the Apocalypse had been about as powerful of an opening act as you can get. They fired up the crowd from note one and kicked off the show with a burst of energy. Inducing Panic picked up right where their predecessor left off, with their high energy set. With an excellent stage performance and a variety of styles in their arsenal they were entertaining to be sure. Finally, Bessemer Saints were nothing short of amazing. I have seen them a handful of times prior to this and I can tell you they were never as on point as they were this past Saturday. With unparalleled style they wowed all in attendance and welcomed their new album into the world in titanic fashion. For sure it will be a night not soon forgotten in the Cleveland scene. I arrived home feeling wholly satisfied. It had been a hell of a night for some Rock N’ Roll. On that note I will draw this installment to a close. As always, hoist your horns, bang you head and thank you for reading.

Until next time, Rock on, Rustbelt,

-Z.M. Delgado

Rustbelt Rock Review

Rustbeltrockreview.com

3/3/2024

Links:

Bessemer Saints

https://www.facebook.com/BessemerSaints/

https://www.instagram.com/bessemersaints/

Inducing Panic

https://inducingpanicband.com/home

https://www.facebook.com/inducingpanic1/