Midwest Beatdown: REVIEW :: NOTHING MORE ENERGIZES THE SKYWAY!

REVIEW :: NOTHING MORE, OF MICE AND MEN, BADFLOWER, PALASADES
Skyway Theater in Minneapolis, MN
04/02/19
REVIEW AND PHOTOS BY BRETT ZISLER

Passing by the snowbanks on the streets of downtown Minneapolis, one couldn’t help but notice the large lines of dedicated fans huddled up waiting outside for their chance to pack their way into the Skyway Theater. On March 2nd Texas natives Nothing More brought their TRUTH tour into town along with Of Mice & Men, Badflower & Palisades to perform to a sold-out Skyway Theater. With only a small handful of national tours making their way through Minneapolis so far in early 2019, it was evident that the crowd was primed and ready to rock out on this Saturday night.

Nothing More wasted no time in unleashing their intense live show by starting their set off with their front man, Jonny Hawkins, climbing a ladder to crank up an air raid siren for the beginning of their hit “Let’em Burn.” As soon as the white curtain their silhouettes appeared on dropped, it was clear the rock show Minneapolis needed was finally here. Nothing More powered their way through the beginning of their set with fan favorites “Don’t Stop” and “Christ Copyright.” Guitarist Mark Vollelunga’s driving riffs and energetic stage presence paired perfectly with drummer, Ben Anderson and bass player, Daniel Oliver, as the crowd echoed back at the lyrics song for song. Hawkins displayed his former days of drumming as he wailed away on the scorpion tail as it sat on the stage acting as a drum set. This was a very calculated performance with the right songs placed at the right times in the set to flow with ease in front of nearly 2,000 fans.

As Hawkins took a break to speak with fans, it was enjoyable to see a performer of this caliber be open and honest about depression and the help that is available. He then went on to explain that a $1 from each ticket sold on the TRUTH tour went to the To Write Love On Her Arms Foundation. This non-profit is dedicated to finding hope & help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. The reaction of the crowd was overwhelming and only added to the enjoyment of the evening. Hawkins then lead into the personal song “Jenny” as the crowd sang at their loudest yet.

Nothing More wrapped up the 17 song setlist with a plethora of aggression. The ever popular “This is the Time” resonated with fans as they bellowed out the chorus with Hawkins, Oliver and Vollelunga. They followed that up with an eccentric cover of Queen’s “We Will Rock You” which lead into the scorpion tail finally getting its chance to rise to it’s 14ft tall glory. Hawkins swayed back and forth on the scrap metal giant as the band treated the crowd to their rendition of “First of the Year.” Nothing More put the emphasis on the show by concluding with “Salem” from their now 10-year-old debut album The Few Not Fleeting.

It was hard not the leave the Skyway Theater with a smile on your face. Nothing More has a live show unlike anyone else that leaves nothing on the table. Their passion for their music is obvious as they deliver it to their hungry fan base. From the intense lighting assault, over the top drumming and songs that their fans feel a part of, it’s all pieces of the Nothing More live show experience. This band has worked hard at their craft and they have nowhere else to go but the top.

OF MICE AND MEN tore thru a very tight 8 song set focusing on newer material from Defy and their new single "How to Survive" with a couple classics for good measure.