Sold Out Union Stage with Dead Poet Society
By Anna PorcellaOver the course of their nearly decade long career, four-piece band Dead Poet Society has taken the time to hone in on their style of modern rock: clean, haunting vocals and emotionally charged lyrics contrasting with heavy instrumentals. After crafting this sound through the release of several EPs and debut album “-!-”, Dead Poet Society have returned with their strongest body of work yet with sophomore album “Fission.” The Fission Tour, a celebration of this album, arrived to a sold out Union Stage in Washington, DC on Friday evening. Along with them on this tour is Andrés, an artist who performs with a unique blend of genres including hip-hop, jazz, pop, and rock.
The set opens to low, pulsing lights, mounting the anticipation in the room as bassist Dylan Brenner leads the intro of “Hard to Be God” from the latest album. Along with guitarist Jack Collins, the two lead songs with head banging riffs. The energy in the room explodes during the final chorus of the song, in which frontman Jack Underkofler dives over the barricade to crowdsurf. From there on the energy in the room never drops, the set keeping the crowd moving from start to finish. While drummer Will Goodroad’s presence was missed due to sickness, Badflower’s Anthony Sonetti was a worthy substitute.
Dead Poet Society keeps their setlist short but sweet, playing favorites from both “-!-” and “Fission.” A personal favorite of mine was “.SALT.,” a song with mellow vocals but the type of heavy hitting bass that reverberates through your chest. Their style of hard-hitting rock prompted mosh pits spanning nearly wall-to-wall in the packed venue. Many fans were returners; several sporting merch from their tour runs as support for Highly Suspect and Badflower, and they promised to return again should the band come back to DC.
