We arrived at the Echo Lounge and Music Bar just in time for the start of Balmora’s set. The Connecticut four-piece walked on stage to the tune of “Laura Palmer’s Theme” from the Twin Peaks soundtrack. The melodramatic ambience of that song was swiftly undercut by Balmora’s powerful, punchy metalcore sound. Frontman Senti sauntered around the stage in a snapback and hood, selling the image of the band’s street-tough style. Balmora was probably the most straightforwardly heavy act of the night, garnering the most energetic from the portion of the crowd inclined to moshing.
I was already twice familiar with the Chat Pile live experience, but I was no less entertained by frontman Raygun Busch’s local movie trivia. Robocop and Primer got shoutouts as Dallas cinematic achievements between an exciting setlist from the four-piece Oklahoma City noise rock outfit. I even got to hear an unreleased song, introduced by Busch as a “Song about how much we hate ICE.”
Chat Pile are an especially fun live act because they always play without a setlist. The four members all look like they were having fun with the performance, and it was a pleasure to see these musicians communicate with one another between songs by playing bits of the track they want to play next, trusting that the other members will remember the parts they need to play. Even when they are opening for another band, they are able to captivate a mostly-unfamiliar audience with their compelling songwriting. Songs like “Why,” which confront real problems like homelessness in simple, direct language instantly connect with a new audience.
Fleshwater was an entirely new live experience for me, and I was impressed by how they, too, instantly captivated unfamiliar audience members (me) with their dynamic take on a blend of indubitably twenty-first century genres—grungegaze, post-hardcore, etc. Songs like “Jetpack” use a dynamic blend of melodic intervals and pumped-up hooks and choruses to keep listeners on their toes. The crowd was noticeably younger, but seemed familiar with the lyrics of songs like “what the f#%! was said” and “Enjoy,” a Björk cover.
I was pleased by this tour’s diverse lineup of uniquely 2025 musicians. From the East Coast hardcore roots of Balmora to the Midwestern noise rock contribution from Chat Pile and Fleshwater’s powerful blend of both East Coast and Midwest (emo) influences.
