One night, four bands, and a thousand fans. That’s the best way to spend a Sunday: with Dead Poet Society, Honey Revenge, HUNNY, and Broadside at The Nile Theater in Mesa.
The venue was already half full for the first set from Broadside, who opened with “I Think They Know” and seemed to be having so much fun onstage. They were grateful to everyone who showed up, especially when it’s this expensive “just to take a breath” (so true).
HUNNY, on the other hand, delivered their eight songs with precision, with “Lula, I’m Not Mad” and “Vowels (and the Importance of Being Me)” hitting as hard as ever. Hearing “Halloween” just before the holiday was also a treat.
The crowd was loose by then, but Honey Revenge wanted more: more energy, more enthusiasm, more movement. Not a single band member stayed still during their co-headlining set, which was half new songs from September’s Loving and Losing and half older music that they hoped would be familiar. Alas, the dancing down below was minimal. “I hope you guys go harder during DPS,” vocalist Dev Papadol scoffed, and the fans ate it up. More artists should lightly bully their audiences.
Turns out the crowd was largely there for Dead Poet Society, who was slated as the final set of the night- they’re alternating nights with Honey Revenge to close the show. This is the first tour since the release of Monarch, and the fans were eager to hear the new music in all its live glory, and they weren’t kept waiting; “Hollywood On Fire” and “Roach” were the first two, followed by “Sinner Systems” later on. But the crowd didn’t open up the pit until the band broke out the old stuff: “.SALT.” and “.CoDA.” and “.intoodeep”.
Arizona does show up for DPS, and they take notice- they ended their set with all the band members coming out to shake hands and say hi to the front row fans. All signs point to them coming back soon.
