NEW YORK — The Audition lived up to more than its name would suggest Wednesday night in Webster Hall.
The band, on the road for the Revolutions and Resolutions tour, had to compete with Lady Gaga, who was the night’s hottest ticket uptown at Radio City Music Hall. But those who decided to see The Audition at their sold-out Studio at Webster Hall show were more than happy with their choice.
Starting the night off were local bands Score 24 and The Life I Lead. Both performed high energy sets, each with a small core of dedicated fans present. While these opening acts did not perform any particularly noteworthy material, they got the crowd awake and ready for the main show that was to come.
Touring in support of its This Is NowEP, The Right Coast performed a lively five-song set. Many in the audience were not familiar with their songs, but the band won them over with a cover of Taylor Swift’s “Love Story.” Vocalist Brandon Ehrgood stated he was sick, but it was next to impossible to tell — he hit every note on point. “Our Name in Lights” received the strongest reaction as the crowd sang along while Ehrgood’s stage presence commanded the evening. The set was short, but it was nonetheless a solid performance for the unsigned band.
Cheers soon erupted for The Dangerous Summer as it took the stage. Signed to Hopeless Records, the band’s debut album Reach for the Sun has received much fan praise. They did not disappoint their admirers, ripping through songs such as “The Permanent Rain” and “Symmetry” and playing an old favorite, “Disconnect.” The set closed with “Never Feel Alone”, a slower song featuring powerful guitars that made for a pleasant ending.
“I was surprised at how awesome the show went and so glad the crowd was into watching us play,” vocalist/bassist A.J. Perdomo told idobi.
After a 20-minute break it was time for The Audition to take the stage. With three albums already released and a fourth on the way, the headlining act walked out to Mystikal’s “Shake it Fast” and the audience knew it was in for a fun set. The band started off with three singles, “Warm Me Up,” “You’ve Made Us Conscious,” and “My Temperature’s Rising.” Each song had the entire room moving and singing back every word.
Vocalist Danny Stevens then announced that The Audition’s new album Great Danger had been completed and was scheduled for release March 16. The band played two new songs off this, “The Art of Living” and “You Ruined This,” both of which received positive reactions. The new album, according to band members, was influenced by The Audition’s prior work but still has its own distinctive flavor.
“We decided to resort back towards the sound of Controversy Loves Company and as a whole the record is very upbeat,” bassist Timothy Klepek told idobi.
After several more songs The Audition performed “Don’t Be So Hard,” the audience dancing along with the enthusiasm it had sported from the beginning of the set. After the song finished, the houselights remained dimmed with the crowd cheering for “one more song.” Guitarist Seth Johnson peered his head out the side of the stage and walked out with the rest of the band following, and they bursted into “Sign.Steal.Deliver.,” closing the night on a high note.
Notably absent from the show were Sparks the Rescue, who joined the tour Thursday night in Philadelphia.