Memphis May Fire Brings the Remade In Misery Tour to Pensacola

Photo Credit: Scott Raymer

Memphis May Fire performed before a sold-out crowd in Pensacola on July 30^th. This was one of the last stops on the Remade in Misery Tour which was sponsored by Sirius XM Octane. The metalcore band was joined by a great set of opening acts including From Ashes To New (FATN), Rain City Drive, and Wolves At The Gate.

Since the pandemic there has been a lack of quality of acts making stops in the Florida panhandle. Most bands have chosen to skip over the area opting to play larger cities like Birmingham, Atlanta or New Orleans. It was apparent very early on that this was going to be a huge show. Fans were still wrapped around the building waiting for entrance to the Vinyl Music Hall an hour after the doors opened.

The crowd inside the music hall was elbow-to-elbow and the heat was sweltering. This was not your typical late arriving crowd. The house was full by the time the first act hit the stage. It took me several minutes just to make my way through the mass of people to reach the photo pit entrance. Unfortunately, it was too late to catch the opening band Wolves At The Gate.

Rain City Drive took the stage after Wolves At The Gate. This was a band that I had not heard of, but there was something familiar about vocalist Matthew McAndrew. It turns out the band was previously known as Slaves which I had previously photographed at the Rebel Rock Festival in 2021.

***Rain City Drive***, **Photo Credit: Scott Raymer**

Most of the audience probably came for music on the harder side but Rain City Drive brought a more cultivated alternative sound to the night’s line-up. There were no dirty or rap vocals from McAndrew, just clean melodic vocals. He came across as more pop star with his vocal style and moves.

The band opened with “Waiting on You” from their latest self-titled album. Even though Memphis May Fire and From Ashes To New were the headliners, Rain City Drive had their share of fans in the audience. Whenever McAndrew turned his mic toward the crowd they were always prepared to respond with the song’s lyrics.

Rain City Drive closed their set with “Cutting It Close”. As they said their good night to the crowd there were shouts of “One More Song”. Unfortunately, disappointment was in the air as the band did not return.

Next up were Lancaster, PA’s From Ashes To New (FATN) which was a band I was excited to see. I spent one year of my youth in Lancaster County. It still brings back images of Amish and Mennonites in horse pulled buggies lined up at the area market. It’s hard to picture bands like FATN, August Burns Red, and Halestorm, from neighboring York County, coming from a largely conservative area such as this.

Anyone that has read any of my album reviews knows that I love music that exhibits a lot of dynamics. There are not many bands that present more dynamic range that FATN. Some have compared them to Linkin’ Park because of their use of two lead singers who integrate rap, clean, and dirty vocals.

*From Ashes To New*, Photo Credit: Scott Raymer

While the crowd was relatively tame during Rain City Drive’s set, the house started to rock when FATN took the stage. They opened with “Panic” with both vocalists prowling across the stage with mics in hand. Matt Brandyberry rapped out the verses while Danny Case added screams and soaring clean vocals for the choruses. Fans were jumping with hands in the air. The only musicians on the stage were Mat Madiro on drums and Lance Dowdle on guitar. It was strange seeing a band perform without a bassist, but the two produced a big sound on their own.

Towards the end of the set Brandyberry teamed up with Dowdle on guitar for “Scars That I’m Hiding”. Not to be outdone, Case pulled out an acoustic guitar for “Crazy”. By this time the crowd surfers were flowing to the front on a regular basis while the mosh pit was filled with overzealous fans. The whole scene was chaotic.

FATN closed with “Through It All” from their 2016 debut album, Day One, which was the band’s first top-40 song. They left the stage after a wild performance leaving a crowd that was drenched in sweat from the previous 45 minutes of jumping and head bobbing.

While waiting for Memphis May Fire, fans started a sing-a-along of “I Want It That Way” by the Backstreet Boys. The crowd was all warmed up, literally, and ready for the band. The time had finally come, and the house lights dimmed. Jake Garland walked on stage and took his seat behind his drums on an elevated platform. Garland was followed by guitarist Kellen McGregor, bassist Cory Elder, and vocalist Matty Mullins.

Once all were in place, an explosion of intense lights shot from the stage and the band launched into “Blood & Water”. The lights, along with the powerful blast of sound from the stacked Mesa Boogie speakers, momentarily blinded me and sent me staggering. If not for the photo pit barrier I may have fallen backwards into the crowd. This was the last week of the tour, and the band was not going to hold anything back.

Memphis May Fire delivered a hard-hitting, head banging performance. Mullins spent the hour barking out his dirty and clean vocals. The band’s latest album Remade in Misery was released in June, hence it was well represented during the night with songs including “Blood & Water”, “Left For Dead”, “Somebody”, Your Turn”, “Make Believe”, and “The Fight Within” being performed.

*Memphis May Fire*, Photo Credit: Scott Raymer

Garland started off the set’s last song, “Vices”, with a fantastic drum solo. Later in the song FATK’s Danny Case emerged from backstage to sing alongside Mullins. As the band left the stage there were immediate chants of “One More Song”. Unlike their requests for more from FATN, this time they were rewarded with a two-song encore.

Mullins initially returned solo to the stage to sing “The Fight Within” before being joined later by the remaining band members. This was the only slow song of the night which gave the band time to recharge. They took this newly stored energy and let it all loose for final song “The Sinner”. Mullins instructed the crowd to wave those hands in the air and later to jump. The whole floor was a sea of hands moving from side to side. Before closing out the night, Mullins asked everyone to put their horns up while the tour photographer captured a photo of the band with the crowd.

Unfortunately, the Remade in Misery tour has concluded so fans who missed the tour will have to wait until the next time. In the meantime, check out Memphis May Fire’s latest album Remade in Misery here.

Follow Memphis May Fire

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Website | Spotify

Follow From Ashes To New

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Website | Spotify

Article by Scott Raymer (Website | Instagram | Facebook)

Comment below.