CROWN THE EMPIRE's Sold Out Show at the Gramercy Theatre in NYC
by Sabrina Amoriello - 3 min read 06/25/22
12 years, 6 records, and almost a thousand performances, Crown The Empire have clearly earned their title as one of the classic emo rock bands of the century. To celebrate 10 years of the band's first full length album that gained their loyal fan base of all ages, they took to the road to celebrate alongside three other fantastic hardcore rock bands; D.R.U.G.S, The Word Alive, and Until I Wake.
Until I Wake began the night, immediately setting the vibe for the performances ahead to a venue quickly filling with Warped Tour alumni. The band was full of energy that radiated to the crowd, with fans moshing within the first few songs. The band was a perfect fit to begin the evening, setting the tone for the performances to come by bringing the energy necessary for Crown The Empire right off the bat.
The Word Alive took to the stage next, matching and adding to the energy left behind by Until I Wake. Lead singer Tyler Smith has one of the most interactive performances and even then, apologized for not being able to go as hard with the fans due to microphone malfunctions. It is obvious the band has been around for over a decade by the way their instruments intertwine effortlessly with one another and how easily Tyler Smith can find the right key to sing in despite not being able to fully hear himself.
As the sold out show began to fill its capacity, Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows (D.R.U.G.S) entered the stage. Yet again, the band has passed through a decade of albums and performances, and their musicianship clearly shows its maturity. Performing possibly one of the hardest genres, the band effortlessly made each song sound better than the last with hints of Linkin Park influence in some of their hits. D.R.U.G.S got the crowd even more exhilarated for Crown the Empire’s performance, at one point getting the crowd to split down the middle for a full mosh. The energy was unforgettable as it spilled over into the main act.
Crown The Empire unquestionably deserved their spot as a classic emo rock band that’ll never be forgotten. The band's first full length album, The Fallout, is filled with songs that every teen who considered themselves “emo” know by heart, and still scream along to. Fans had been anticipating the anniversary tour of the first album and New Yorkers were elated to welcome the band back to the Gramercy Theatre to relive all the memories of 2012 teenage angst. The band has been through a handful of members over the years, yet you wouldn’t realize it from the performance seen on stage. The drummer was lights out, going harder with each solo alongside the skilled guitarist who makes the strings cry along to the beat of the solos, never once losing a beat. Andrew Rockhold has been the centerpiece of Crown The Empire since the band's beginnings in 2010 and hasn’t lost the passion he began the four-piece ensemble with. His love for the music pours into the crowd, conveying their adoration through creating circles in the center of the dance floor and floating through arms to get closer to the performance ahead.
Crown the Empire put on an exceptional performance, it’s no wonder they sold out New York City on a Wednesday night. The band has perfected their on-stage performance over their years in the industry and truly know how to make a stage their own from the opening song to the last one in the encore. The tour is coming to an end but if you haven’t missed Crown the Empire in your city on The Fallout tour, grab some tickets, maybe some hair dye, and enjoy the evening moshing all night! Check out the bands new remix of their hit Johnny’s Revenge from The Fallout and keep up to date on their instagrams below!
