Gallows - first show with new singer Wade MacNeil

I'm not sure why, but every couple of years I throw on Freddy's Dead: the Final Nightmare, thinking, Maybe this time it'll be good. Perhaps that's because I only watch the movie when I'm extremely tired and/or intoxicated, so I don't remember it that well, and only recall the few positive elements of the film: the crazy map, the town that keeps you going in circles, and the weird adult residents of childless Springwood. But I always end up regretting putting it on in favor or something else.

Anyway . . .

The first date of the AP Tour, featuring Four Year Strong, Gallows, and Title Fight, was last night in Allentown, at Crocodile Rock (a shitty venue to be sure, but unfortunately the only place in the Lehigh Valley to see shows of this size). Four Year Strong and Title Fight are fine, but my main reason for going was to see Gallows with their new singer, Wade MacNeil, originally from Alexisonfire, a band unfamiliar to me.

I'll admit being a little skeptical about someone new in the role of lead vocalist, since Frank Carter was so great in that band. And it was surprising to hear that a band that's written a number of songs that are seemingly very England-centric would take on a non-Englishman for the front spot on stage. But damn if MacNeil and the rest of Gallows didn't put on just as good a show as the last one I caught, a couple summers ago when they opened for AFI.

Their set last night opened with the intro to "Misery," they came out on stage, and fucking blew it away. The second song in, MacNeil came down onto the floor to sing, and a few songs later the guitar was down on the floor as well. MacNeil's vocal delivery of the songs from Grey Britain and Orchestra of Wolves was different, of course, than Carter's, as he's from Toronto not London, but no less powerful. The guy gets a very crazy look in his eyes when he's singing, too.

With very little pause between songs, they kept things going pretty quickly for their just-under-forty-minute set, playing five off their second album and three off the first, with a couple new ones in there, ending with the sing-along chant of "Orchestra of Wolves."

I know there are some folks who'd insist it isn't the same without Frank Carter singing, but after reading their write-up in Alternative Press, I wonder if those same people would enjoy an album that went the more commercial, standard rock sound that Carter was supposedly pushing for. Personally, I'm glad they decided to keep going and to keep the music heavy.

Any doubts one might have about the possibility of Gallows slowing things down or going "soft" are easily put to rest by the two new songs, both of which are fast, heavy, and very intense.

I look forward to hearing a new record, which hopefully will be out next year, and seeing them again in the future.

Go to www.gallows.co.uk to hear the new song "True Colours."