At first, I wasn’t even sure I was going to make it to the House of Blues. Finding parking in downtown Dallas felt like an ordeal in itself. Every lot charged $5 an hour, and one wrong turn sent me back onto the highway toward my hometown area of Houston for what felt like an eternity. After an unexpected 9-minute detour, I finally found a spot and began the walk to the venue, passing an abandoned Hooters and dodging groups of NBA fans excited for the Milwaukee Bucks vs. Dallas Mavericks game happening nearby. The streets were buzzing, and I could already tell it was going to be one of those nights where the energy of the city seeps into everything.
By the time I arrived at House of Blues, the place was filling up fast. The opener, BEL, was already making waves, walking out in her signature cowgirl outfit saved for Texas, which only seemed to add to her charm. The crowd ate it up. Her performance was full of energy, her vocals strong and engaging, but it was her guitarist who really stood out to me. His riffs were sharp, adding a gritty southern-indie rock vibe that brought something extra to the set.
When The Rare Occasions hit the stage, the crowd was already buzzing. Packed from wall to wall, the venue was alive with anticipation. What struck me was the range of people in the audience—it contained any and everyone, from teenagers, to people in their 50s and 60s. The band started off strong, and it was clear from the get-go that the crowd wasn’t just there for their viral hit “Notion.” People were singing along to almost every song, showing the depth of their fan base.
The show was part of their tour promoting their new album, Through Moonshot Eyes The set had a balance of high-energy moments and emotional pauses, and the audience was right there with them. It felt like we were all connected through the music, and for a while, everything was going perfectly.
That is, until they introduced “Strange Worlds.” Brian, the lead singer, pianist, and guitarist explained that the song was about the Israel-Palestine conflict, stating, ”Whatever side of a line you live on does not matter, and we don’t choose the people we love, but the people that we love are in places in the world that are under strife right now.” While, initially, the band wasn’t trying to pick sides, they wanted to highlight the impact of the ongoing strife on innocent lives. The audience fell silent, hanging onto their every word.
Then, out of nowhere, someone shouted “Free Palestine!” That’s when Luke, the drummer snapped, “Nah, fuck that, fuck Hamas, free the hostages!” into the mic before storming off stage. The whole room froze. What had been a night of great music suddenly turned into something much heavier.
Jeremy, the bassist, tried to calm the crowd down after Luke’s abrupt exit. “We don’t want that shit, no matter who you are or where you stand,” he said. He paused for a moment, looking out into the crowd, then added, “At the end of the day, we’re all human, and we can’t forget the people we love who are caught in the middle of all this. We can’t control where we’re from, but we can control how we treat each other.” It was a powerful moment, one that stuck with me long after the show ended.
Brian and Jeremy were left onstage, clearly shaken. “Get the fuck out of our show if you have a problem with this,” one of the band members said before they both disappeared backstage to check on their friend, leaving the crowd in an uneasy silence. A few people near me walked out, visibly upset, but mostly everyone stayed, waiting to see what would happen next. You could feel the tension, but at the same time, there was a shared sense that this was about more than just the music now.
When Brian and Jeremy returned to the stage, they continued the show without Luke. The set shifted into something more intimate, with the band opting to play their songs acoustically. It was an unexpected change, but it worked. Tracks like “Notion” and “Loans” took on a new life without the drums, stripped down to just vocals and guitar. It wasn’t the high-energy performance anyone had expected, but it was still raw and deeply emotional.
Jeremy addressed the crowd again: “We’re sorry for the tension this caused, but we’re going to keep going. If that’s okay with you, let’s bring it back to the music.” The crowd stayed with them through the shift, and in some ways, the night felt even more connected because of the vulnerability on display.
As if the night hadn’t already seen enough drama, things took another turn when someone in the audience passed out. Without missing a beat, Jeremy took control of the situation, directing people to clear a path for the paramedics. It was unclear whether the person had fainted from the tension in the room or something else, but Jeremy’s calm leadership helped de-escalate the situation quickly.
After the show, I had the opportunity to speak with Jeremy. Despite the intensity of the night, he stayed behind to chat with fans, something I found deeply impressive. He could’ve easily gone backstage to check on Luke just like Brian did, but instead, he hung around, taking the time to connect with those who came out to see the band. That’s when I got the chance to ask him a few questions.
As a photography guy myself, we started talking about photography, which turned out to be one of his passions. “I wanted to get a smaller point-and-shoot, but I couldn’t find one with a viewfinder,” he mentioned casually, explaining that he does video work too. He shared how his love for photography got him more involved in the local music scene. “I started shooting gigs, and it led to more opportunities. We’ve gotten gigs because I’ve gone out to shows and shot. The scene gives us so much, so I felt like I needed to give back.”
Our conversation flowed easily, even as security was nudging us to leave, and we ended up walking out to the lobby to continue our conversation. When I asked him about his favorite food, he grinned and said, “You can’t go wrong with pasta, but a good tiramisu is unbeatable.” It was such a humble, grounded gesture for him to stick around and chat, especially after everything that had happened during the show.
In the end, this night wasn’t just about music. From BEL’s high-energy opening to the stripped-down, emotional finish by The Rare Occasions, the night was full of moments none of us saw coming. Whether it was the important political discussions, the raw acoustic performances, or the personal conversation I had with Jeremy, this was a night I won’t forget anytime soon.
If you’re interested in seeing more of my photos from this night, check ’em out here!
