As we approach the end of the year, shows are dying down for the holidays- but not in the case of Wednesday night in Arizona. Counterparts, SeeYouSpaceCowboy and Dying Wish brought one of the best hardcore lineups of 2022 to the Nile Theater in Mesa for a night of intense music and endless stage diving.
Dying Wish blasted onstage to massive cheers from the nearly sold out room. Vocalist Emma Boster is one of the most powerful voices in today’s hardcore scene and everyone in the venue was more than ready for their return to Arizona. The band encouraged the stage divers, crowdsurfers and moshers as a large section of the floor opened into a pit that stayed active all night.
SeeYouSpaceCowboy has been on the road nonstop this year and they provided stunning direct support for this tour. The band, led by magnetic frontwoman Connie Sgarbossa, also kept the bodies moving- whether that meant them flying off the stage or flailing in the pit. Both Dying Wish and SYSC got up close and personal with their crowd, nearly throwing themselves into the audience as the fans screamed the words to songs with titles too lengthy to list.
Counterparts is closing out 2022 in a huge way with this tour, as many of the rooms have been full of excited fans. The Canadian metalcore band lit the room with blinding colors, playing songs from their latest album, A Eulogy for Those Still Here. Mesa was incredibly receptive to every song and there were clearly some incredibly devoted fans in the room, ready to turn up for their favorites. The album has almost an air of finality about it, but with the energy running as high as it was on Wednesday night, it’s unlikely we’ve seen nearly the last of Counterparts.
Even though the temperatures were dropping outside, attendees spilled into the streets steaming from the sweat worked up at this amazing show- a killer way to shut the door on November and get ready for what’s to come in 2023.
Check out all the photos from the show!
Story and photos by Olivia Khiel
