Apr 28

Apr 28 Show Review, Photos: Silverstein Bring 'Misery Made Me' Tour to San Francisco

Silverstein
w/ Dayseeker, SeeYouSpaceCowboy, One Step Closer
The Regency Ballroom
San Francisco, CA
April 23rd, 2023

Photos and Review by Dasha Semyonova

Let’s just say this entire show felt like a massive throwback to the mid-2000s. From the opening act to the main event of the night to the venue’s PA system playing all the Warped Tour hits in between sets. the crowd loved it. This is the kind of energy that could be encountered when Silverstein took the stage on Sunday night at San Francisco’s Regency Ballroom, with support from acts Dayseeker, SeeYouSpaceCowboy, and One Step Closer.

If you like the old-school classics of Thursday and Thrice, you’re going to love One Step Closer. Their music is perfectly reminiscent of a better time (2006!). For a heavy band, they’re so much fun to listen to. The melodic guitar licks, riff after riff, and upbeat drums complement the lead and backup vocals well. One Step Closer looks like the new generation of rock stars, adapting more of a modern punk look— everyone’s wearing beat-up tennis shoes, jeans, and a t-shirt on. The band was the perfect opener for a much-loved headliner.

SeeYouSpaceCowboy (what a great name) was up next, and their sound brought a heavy wave of nostalgia over me – they reminded me of The Devil Wears Prada circa 2007 (think Plagues). This band was so entertaining, and it was such a pleasure to see their show. There’s a ton of movement on stage, and it’s clear that every member is having the time of their lives. While you can definitely pick up on a lot of the traditional qualities of metalcore – heavy vocals, breakdowns, plentiful use of cymbals, and an exploration of the entire drum kit – there’s something wonderfully modern about SeeYouSpaceCowboy. The band is very open about their progressive messaging, including topics surrounding diversity and the LGBTQIA+ community – they set the guidelines for the future of this genre.

The crowd went nuts when the banner for Dayseeker came down, and for good reason — they’re incredible. This was a total gear shift away from the heavier openers; Dayseeker played a much more intimate, mellow set, embracing their pop sensibilities. The lead vocalist, Rory Rodriguez, has a voice as smooth as butter, and the calmer vibes gave the audience a chance to chill out before the headliner. With a brighter, more uplifting sound, came a sweet message from Rory about his father — a reminder to pay attention and care for your loved ones while you have the time. This relatable message of heartbreak and strife hits home with fans, who sang along emotionally with each song. It was almost hard to hear the band at times, with the audience drowning them out as they sang every word right back to them. Shifting away from pop, they closed out their set with a heavier breakdown, setting the mood in the venue just right for the main event – Canada’s own Silverstein.

For the legions of longtime fans that attended this show, Silverstein’s set was an absolute hit. They played a great blend of new songs (from their most recent album Misery Made Me), old favorites from throughout their two-decade-long career, and even a Linkin Park cover. Their lead vocalist, Shane Told, never fails to put on a spectacular performance.

It’s clear that Silverstein loves what they do; you could see a plethora of smiles and enthusiasm brimming from the stage. This enthusiasm bled into the audience, who belted out their favorite songs, like “My Heroin”, “Burn It Down”, and “Smile In Your Sleep”. To me – it’s always so amazing to see the connection between the fans and the artists happening in real-time.

Silverstein’s set really brought the whole package together in a neat little bow — all of the sounds from the preceding openers assembled together into one headliner worthy of a massive crowd. Overall, this was a great show — a good balance of different genres, and a group of enthusiastic bands who love to interact with the audience and create an atmosphere of good vibes. Just as notable as their epic headlining set, Silverstein (a staple of the post-hardcore genre since the early aughts) brought along a group of up-and-coming bands that will continue to propel the genre forward.

Silverstein’s tour continues tonight in Edmonton, CA at Midway. For tickets and more info on upcoming shows, you can click here.

Silverstein Set List
Ultraviolet
Retrograde
Burn It Down
Giving Up
It's Over
California
American Dream
The Ides of March
Bankrupt
Infinite
Bad Habits
Massachusetts
Poison Pill
One Step Closer (Linkin Park cover)
My Heroine
The Afterglow
Live Like This
Misery

Encore:
Smile In Your Sleep
The Altar/Mary