Chamber Press Issue #3

CHAMBER PRESS

summer 2023

THE ALL-AMERICAN REJECTS

PHOTOS + REVIEW

PG 15

PG 22

CHAMBER PRESS STAFF

ASHLEY REYES

editor-in-chief / photographer

AMANDA TOWERY photographer

DAWSON BOURDETTE photographer

BRANDI TROMBLI photographer

OLIVIA ROBINSON photographer

BREANA MARSHALL photographer

contributing photgraphers: delaney hawley, aly mae

INTERESTED IN CONTRIBUTING WRITING OR PHOTOGRAPHY?

email: ashley@chamberpress.org

NOW STREAMING

If Not For Me - Blameless

NOW STREAMING

Rain City Drive - Frozen

NOW STREAMING

NOW STREAMING

Designer Disguise - Spooky Scary

Skeletons (their version)

Originally performed by Andrew Gold

INVENT ANIMATE BRINGS FALL TOUR TO EASTSIDE BOWL

REVIEW AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY ASHLEY REYES

While at a show in the early Summer, I heard a band’s music during set changes that kept my attention. After using Shazam to discover what band I kept hearing, I learned it was Invent, Animate Shortly after, I was eager to find out they were going on tour The tour, which included three openers–two being from Sweden, stopped in Nashville on November 29th

All the way from Sweden, Aviana set the night in motion with a room full of people, a wall of death, and several moshpits. Their lighting setup, along with most of the members being masked, created a fun visual performance and experience During one of their first few songs, vocalist Joel Holmqvis jumped off the stage to sing at the barricade with the crowd in an unforgettable moment

thrown

Aviana

Aviana

Also from Sweden, thrown was the next band to take the stage, and they brought the heavy From the second they started playing, they brought high energy and had the crowd going wild When Void Of Vision performed, the room was so energetic that the barricade started to shake with the crowd’s movements The moshpits never stopped from the opening band until the last, and there was no exception during their set

The second Invent Animate took the stage, the crowd began screaming Their set started off energetic and heavy from the beginning, and they kept the energy throughout the performance Their beautiful, fun lighting setup heightened their stage presence and performance Vocalist Marcus Vik showcased true passion and happiness throughout their performance, looking grateful for the crowd as he did Despite moshing and headbanging for hours, the crowd kept up until the very end, keeping the moshpits alive and going crazy for their set Seeing them live was just as incredible as listening to their music on repeat throughout the months while preparing for the tour From start to finish, every band was impressive and worth seeing several times over.

BOYS LIKE GIRLS BRING THE THUNDER TO CHARLOTTE

After a 12-year musical hiatus, it seems Boys Like Girls are ready to come back to the music scene Starting up in 2005, the Boston-based band quickly gained a mainstream following with the release of their self-titled debut album “Boys Like Girls” in 2006 This American pop-rock band consists of vocalist Martin Johnson, lead guitarist Jamel Hawke, bass guitarist Gregory James, and drummer John Keefe Their new album, Sunday at Foxwoods, is set to be released on October 20th

The Speaking Our Language Tour kicked off in Charlotte, NC, on September 17th There was a steady growing line outside The Fillmore The buzz of chatter was infectious So many fans shared stories of seeing them in the early 2000s, and now living for the nostalgia that would engulf the night

Canadian singer-songwriter LOLO kicked off the night with high energy and plenty of crowd interaction Black and blue pom poms were tossed into the crowd as LOLO launched into performing songs off her 2022 release Debbie Downer Her brand of upbeat rock fit right into this lineup and the crowd agreed

Four Year Strong

REVIEW AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMANDA TOWERY

LOLO LOLO

With the anticipation set in the air and fans continuing to fill the venue, Four Year Strong, known for their powerful blend of pop-punk and hardcore, stormed out onto the stage launching into It Must Really Suck to be Four Year Strong The crowd's energy was fed by the relentless energy, ear-shattering riffs, and an unwavering connection between the band and fans Waves of crowd surfers began to surge the barricade This seemed to amp co-vocalist/guitarist Dan and Alan Bassist Joe and drummer Jake fueled the rhythmic undertones that drive the composition Finishing out their set with Wasting Time, the crowd was full of explosive energy

With the energy level still sitting at a high, lead vocalist Derek of State Champs glided onto the stage effortlessly, engaging the crowd and creating a tether His vocals were on point, hitting every high note with ease Bassist Ryan, guitarist Tyler, and drummer Evan blended seamlessly to create a rhythm that carried from the front of house to the back With killer choruses like the one on Secrets or deeper songs like Elevated, State Champs had a little mix for everyone in the room

As the lights dimmed and the first chords reverberated through the venue, I could tell we were all in for a night of exhilarating music and unforgettable memories The time finally came for Boys Like Girls to take the stage Backlit by Marshall amp projection screens, the band members slowly began to file out Guitarist Jamel took the stage, followed by bassist Greg, drummer John, and then enthusiastically by vocalist Martin. He took the step-up platform on the stage to take a look out at the packed venue. You could tell this was the moment the boys had been waiting for. Launching into the set with Love Drunk, the band was almost drowned out by how enthusiastically the crowd sang the words back to them, greeting the band as if they were old friends.

The setlist was, no doubt, going to be packed with some of their biggest hits along with some of their new music. Vocalist Martin Johnson’s voice held up impeccably and seamlessly delivered each song with the same passion and intensity as when they were first recorded. His stage presence was magnetic, and he effortlessly engaged with the crowd, encouraging crowd participation and sharing moments of nostalgia. Not only were the vocals on point, but the instrumentals sounded just as polished as their studio recordings.

The Plot In You

With each song came a new visual effect ranging from lightning to old home movies, and even showing some patriotism with the American flag on display for their rendition of Born in the USA. The production of the show added an extra layer of spectacle. Stunning visuals and dynamic lighting transformed the stage into a mesmerizing backdrop, enhancing the emotional impact of each song.

The electric surge of the vibrant crowd, the pulsating rhythm of the music, and the unmistakable energy that filled the air were the elements that defined the unforgettable Boys Like Girls concert I had the privilege of attending. Be sure to visit the link below to get tickets to one of their remaining tour dates.

State Champs

Four Year Strong

TESSA VIOLET PACKS SEATTLE’S HISTORIC

VENUE THE SHOWBOX

Nearing the end of Tessa Violet’s summer tour, she put on a colorful performance at The Showbox in Seattle on August 31st, 2023. Seattle marked the largest show of tour

Frances Forever opened the show with a fantastic performance They played a variety of songs, and kept everyone on their toes waiting for their hit song Space Girl No one could stop dancing once the first beat of the song started playing.

Tessa Violet got a rupture of applause once she stepped on stage in a stunning pink outfit, with iridescent accents covered in rhinestones She stunned the crowd with her intro song Yes Mom, which immediately got the crowd screaming along. She reintroduced Frances Forever and had them come back out to perform the new single they released together, Play With Fire The two singers surprised the crowd with synchronized choreography

A highlight of the evening was watching the crowd sing back every word to Bad Bitch, which is a song about knowing your worth and not caring what others think. It also mentions Tessa’s iconic yellow hair and her witchy vibes

REVIEW AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY DELANEY HAWLEY

Frances Forever

Frances Forever

Frances Forever

The crowd laughed along as Tessa accidentally forgot to sing the second verse of her song Bad Ideas She stopped and told the crowd “I used to be so afraid of messing up, but then I realized once you’re up here you can do anything and no one will care ” Everyone jumped back into the song with her as she finished it out on a high note

It was an exciting time to be in the front of the pit for fans as Tessa jumped down and got right up on the barricade to ask what people were thankful for and what they were hoping for in life It was a wholesome moment full of adrenaline and happiness from everyone Nearing the end of her set, she did quite the dramatic outfit change and came out in a yellow dress, and even grabbed a golden sparkling bass guitar to complete the look. She grabbed a signed Vinyl of her album My God! and gave it to a fan in the front who had been singing along to every lyric.

The night ended with a phenomenal encore, where Tessa Violet performed a cover of Lady Gaga’s Born This Way. She jumped back down to the barricade to have a fan sing along with her and then pulled the rest of the performers from Frances Forever’s band to finish off the night with a party on stage. Everyone concluded the night with one big final bow. You could feel the energy stayed with the fans as they left the venue.

Tessa Violet

Tessa Violet

Tessa Violet

The Get Up Kids

THE ALL-AMERICAN REJECTS HEAD TO NASHVILLE IN FIRST TOUR IN A DECADE

The Starting Line

Friday, August 25th was the perfect night in Nashville for a tour called The Wet Hot AllAmerican Summer With a sweltering one hundred degrees and high humidity levels, I was amazed that people lined up before doors to get front row for The All-American Rejects first headlining tour in a decade. While the band has traveled for various festival appearances, they have not done a proper tour With a generation of people getting in touch with the music they loved when they were younger, the band had the perfect chance to tour at this time

The Get Up Kids and The Starting Line both did a great job warming up the crowd as the auditorium started filling with people Vocalist Kenny Vasoli of The Starting Line had a wild energy on stage as he performed, and the band closed out with their hit song The Best Of Me from 2002

New Found Glory played a fun, high-energy set which included their hit song My Friends Over You, and a few covers including the famous song Kiss Me Guitarist Chad Gilbert has been publicly battling a rare cancer and even underwent chemo shortly before the tour Despite his challenges, he put on an incredible, inspiring performance and even gave a few heartwarming speeches. He gave a shoutout to his team of doctors and nurses who were in the crowd.

New Found Glory

REVIEW AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY ASHLEY REYES

The All-American Rejects closed out the night with a set full of their collective of massive hits For a band that first got their start decades ago, they’ve proved they’re still beloved Their songs have hundreds of millions of listens on Spotify, and their tour drew a large crowd to one of Nashville’s largest venues They opened the night with Swing, Swing which was the band’s debut single The first few songs were from the same self-titled album before they jumped ahead a decade with The Beekeeper’s Daughter Their set went back and forth between albums spanning their career and included top hits such as Dirty Little Secret, Move Along, and Gives You Hell For people like me who have been waiting decades to see them live, it was like a dream come true. Their performance was fun to watch, and their sound hasn’t changed in decades. Vocalist Tyson Ritter is incredibly talented with his unique voice that fits all of their music perfectly. He puts on a great performance that includes keeping the audience engaged nad entertained. Seeing them was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that everyone should see for themselves.

The All-American Rejects

The All-American Rejects

This WIld Life

T O G E T H E R F O R O N E M O R E N I G H T W I T H Y E L L O W C A R D

This WIld Life

You can imagine the shock and surprise of everyone when Yellowcard announced in February 2023 that they would be doing a tour to celebrate twenty years of Ocean Avenue Could this really be happening?!

Yellowcard brought the celebration to Charlotte, NC July 18th! They completely packed out the Skyla Credit Union Amphitheater Also along for the tour we were graced with This Wild Life, Story of the Year, and Mayday Parade Could this line up be any more epic?

This Wild Life, or jokingly self proclaimed “Hot Topic Mumford and Sons,” were the first to take the stage for the iconic night The band consists of two members, Kevin Jordan and Anthony Del Grosso The acoustic pop-punk duo came out and completely dominated the stage Between the matching outfits and power stomping crocs these two definitely left a lasting impression Next to take the stage in the line up was none other than Story Of The Year. SOTY are an American rock band straight out of St Louis, Missouri Forming in 2010 these guys quickly gained a following in 2003 with the release of Page Avenue

Story Of The Year

REVIEW AND PHOTOS BY: AMANDA TOWERY

Story Of The Year Story Of The Year

As frontman Dan Marsala took the stage playing around with his act of weight lifting the mic the crowd started to surge with energy. From start to finish the entire set had such an energetic hold on the entire venue As they closed out their set with Until the Day I Die, you could feel the ground vibrating with the sheer number of voices booming back to the stage These guys are still a force to behold

As Derek took the stage you could feel the electrifying energy surging off the crowd Forming in 2005, Mayday Parade has been a formidable band in the alternative pop-punk scene It is very obvious why they are such a leading force in the genre with their melodic tunes and absolutely heartfelt lyrics that wrap up into some of the most musically altering songs.

Being one of my favorite bands I was absolutely blown away seeing them again I still get goosebumps even 16 years later hearing Miserable at Best As Mayday Parade ended their set with Jamie All Over, the crowd was left with all this energy and anticipation

Scene Queen

At this point in the night the anticipation was at its climax Yellowcard thundered onto the stage Opening their set with Way Away the crowd went feral At that moment all the elder emos in the venue were instantly transported twenty years back into the past You could see the absolut joy on front man Ryan Key’s face as he looked out over the crowd.

Mayday Parade

Not only did Yellowcard play their album Ocean Avenue, they also snuck other tracks into their setlist spanning their discography As the band played, Ryan stopped to tell stories and little facts, giving violinist Sean, guitarist Ryan, drummer Jimmy, bassist Josh and Mr Key himself a slight break before launching into another song During one of these moments Sean let the crowd know that it was his son, Bentley’s, very first Yellowcard show! The little dude was so happy to be there watching his dad rock out and do his thing

After Back Home the stage became dark and Yellowcard left the stage The crowd began to chant “3 MORE SONGS!” It started out as a trickle and became a roar. There are no words to describe how much energy was pushed back onto Yellowcard as the long awaited song Ocean Avenue was finally played Collectively I am sure that the crowd was so grateful Yellowcard is a band again We can only hope for more tours in the future

Yellowcard

Yellowcard

AVAILABLE NOW!

Honeymoon With His Brother by Ashley Reyes

REVIEW: BEYONCE’S RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR

Things started to pick up after the calm from the first part of her set, and the stadium began to shake while they danced and sang along with her Before the next part of her set, two of her dancers, the Les Twins, performed a dance interlude that got the crowd pumped. After her next video interlude, she played the Wetter Remix version of CUFF IT before performing a few more songs that contained elements of her songs with others. While she performed many of her original songs front to back, she also performed a bunch of mash-up songs that elevated her performance. Her vocals throughout the night were flawless and incredible.

Beyoncé embarked on the Renaissance World Tour in May 2023 The North American leg of the tour started in Canada on July 8th, with the third date stopping at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium on July 15th There wasn’t an empty seat in the venue as fans waited to see Beyoncé live for the first time in roughly five years

For two and a half hours, Beyoncé put on a spectacular performance She appeared out of a cloud of smoke in a stunning, sparkling red dress that shone throughout the stadium After her first song, she was left unable to sing for a few minutes as the crowd excitedly screamed She started off slow with beautiful songs such as Dangerously In Love, Flaws and All, and a cover of River Deep, Mountain High, which she dedicated to Tina Turner Her first part of the set also included her singing 1+1 while sitting on a piano near a group of excited fans

Her first video introduction to the next part of her set included elements of a few songs from the Renaissance album The imagery on the video was incredibly detailed, well thought out, and visually stunning People nearby were talking about how incredible the quality was on the gigantic screen When it wasn’t playing her video introductions during outfit changes, the screen showcased a close-up of Beyoncé performing for a better view The crowd screamed as the video ended and she took the stage by walking out of a robot-like costume

The next part of her set was my favorite. The coordination from start to finish was insanely cohesive. It started with Formation, leading into Diva and Run The World (Girls) and included Beyoncé on stage on top of a small moving tank. The theme for this portion of the set seemed to align with power. With a gigantic, round stage, she utilized it more, getting closer to the crowd

Beyond her show stopping performance and visuals, her performance set itself apart from others in many ways Her impressive, incredibly talented background dancers showed their dedication in their moves and their camera interactions She took the time to thank her band and her backup sings, and to interact with fan signs in the crowd Her elaborate outfits matched her background dancers in style, without being a replica of what she was wearing During some of her songs, she had lighting patterns around the stadium to match her performance, and had fireworks and fire blasts shooting up in cannons from the stage The Renaissance tour was truly a once in a lifetime performance worth every penny spent

Photo by: Julian Dakdouk Review by: Ashley Reyes

G A L L E R Y : T O V E L O I N S T

PHOTOGRAPHY BY OLIVIA ROBINSON

Taylor Acorn

Tove Lo

GALLERY: YOUNG THE GIANT

Taylor Acorn

Book Review

by Ashley Reyes rebecca yarros

FOURTH WING

Violet Sorrengail trained her entire life to be a scribe - someone that works in education and history in her world - but is forced into the rider’s quadrant instead, where she’ll have to learn to ride a dragon Riders are known to die young, if they even make it out of Basgaith War College alive Immediately, she is warned to stay away from another student who is a few years ahead of her, Xaden Riorson He has a vendetta against the family and with Violet’s small stature and fragile joints, she’s an easy target. Unfortunately for her, he is one of the first people she meets, and he’s the wingleader to her squad. To get through alive, she’ll have to train on her muscles while relying on her smarts

Lucky for her, her childhood friend Dain is her squad leader Except, Xaden is above him in ranks In a school where anyone can kill you as long as you’re not sleeping, Violet has a target on her back from several people In this world, they train and die until there’s something called the threshing, where dragons pick their humans and bond with them. Both Dain and her sister, Mira, want her out, but she’s determined and strong-willed.

Book two, Iron Flame, available for preorder

The minute I started reading Fourth Wing, I couldn’t set the book down. The book, while it didn’t start off with a lot of action, got into some action fast, with a death occurring early on. Everything about this book is pure perfection. It was the first book I ever bought a physical copy of after reading a digital copy, just so I could read it twice. A second read is even necessary, as so much is revealed at the end that readers go back to see what they missed, and come up with theories. Despite it being hard to get into fantasy books sometimes, Rebecca Yarros makes it easy. This book is a simple read yet well written, action-packed, and still swoon worthy. Xaden Riorson out ranks even Rhysand on a lot of people’s book boyfriends list.

I loved reading the banter between the humans and the dragons, and think the dragons were incredibly thought out and their communication was integral to the story being fun. There were times where I’d be laughing, times I’d cry, and times I’d scream. By the end, I was mostly crying and screaming. I loved the book so much that I didn’t pick up another book for an entire week. I had to think about everything I read and sometimes, I’m still processing it all. One of the reasons this has become my favorite book is because the story between Violet and Xaden, and how they progress as characters throughout the novel. Xaden is one of the few people that genuinely believes in her, and that alone makes him my favorite character. I loved every time they had a conversation with each other, even from the very beginning. It’s safe to say that I’m in love with a man that doesn’t exist.

Be warned ahead of time that the book ends on a plot twist that no one saw coming, and we now are stuck waiting until November to read more. I’m beyond excited to see where this goes, and to see a movie or television show adaptation one day. You will laugh, scream, and cry, but it’ll all be worth it.

“She can't die, and not just because there's a chance I won't survive. She can't die because I know I can't live without her even if I do.”

-Xaden Riorson

Movie Review

by Ashley Reyes

DUMB MONEY

based on the real events

Dumb Money is a movie that depicts real life events

A few years ago, GameStop made headlines in the stock market when retail traders started buying stock in high amounts. The idea came from a YouTuber and made traction on Reddit

The story itself, and the movie depicting it, is a wild ride.

While the movie was quite funny, it was also educational Not only did I learn about the stock market, but I had an engaging way to learn about what actually happened. Many of us that weren’t betting on GameStop, didn’t know what was really happening

If you didn’t already hate the rich and feel like the system is rigged, you will by the end of this movie. They do a great job at showcasing just how the little guy is screwed over by the rich, and how they work together to purposely hurt us

The ending tells us exactly what happened to all of the major players, leaving no questions unanswered. Overall, it was a quick watch and a fun ride.