Asking Alexandria- supported by Nerv, The Word Alive and Memphis May Fire – The Norva, Norfolk, VA (USA) April, 25, 2024

Asking Alexandria, Memphis May Fire, The Word Alice and Nerv

A chilly start to the night greeted a sold-out show at The Norva for what would end up being a very hot night.  Tonight brought the All My Friends tour to Norfolk, VA.  When I got to the venue, the line was wrapped around the block with fans eager for the show to start.  Once inside, it wasn’t a long wait for Nerv to take the stage, or what little of it was left with all the equipment from all four bands on it.  Nerv is a four-piece band based out of Sacramento, CA (USA) with vocalist Dillon Jones, guitarists Scott Buchanan and Jordan Grokett and drummer Tyler Clark.  This was my first time seeing them and they opened their 7-song set with Bad Nature.  A very melodic metalcore sound with a lot of energy on the stage.  Their set consisted of:

1. Bad Nature
2. Not the One
3. Blue
4. Demons
5. Fake
6. Low
7. Bad Habits

NERV

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Next up on the bill was Phoenix, Arizona (USA) based metalcore band The Word Alive. Formed in 2008, The band currently consists of vocalist Tyler Smith, guitarists Zack Hansen and Jose DelRio, and drummer Daniel Nelson. They opened their 7-song set with 2012 before finishing it off with One of Us.  Having seen them at various times throughout their career, I can say that this was a fun trip through their catalog and set the stage for what else was to come that night.  Their set consisted of:

1. 2012
2. Nocturnal Future
3. Play the Victim
4. Hate Me
5. New Reality
6. Life Cycles
7. One of Us

THE WORD ALIVE

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Next up on the stage was Memphis May Fire.  Formed in Denton, Texas (USA) in 2006, they are a metalcore band that has gone through various lineup changes over the years. Tonight, the lineup was lead guitarist Kellen McGregor, lead vocalist Matty Mullins, bassist Cory Elder, and drummer Jake Garland.  They came out on stage and got things started with Make Believe off their latest album release, 2022s Remade in Misery.  That got the crowd’s attention and had them singing along early.  Matty knows how to work a crowd and he quickly gained their trust and attention while driving through a 12 song set that covered their 9 album history.  The set list for the night was:

1. Make Believe
2. Left for Dead
3. Bleed Me Dry
4. The Old Me
5. Somebody
6. The Sinner
7. Vices
8. Chaotic
9. Miles Away (Acoustic)
10. No Ordinary Love
11. Misery
12. Blood & Water

MEMPHIS MAY FIRE

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And the band to close out the night was up next.  Asking Alexandria. The lights go down and the band members (guitarist Cameron Liddell, drummer James Cassells, vocalist Danny Worsnop, and bassist Sam Bettley) walk out one by one to launch into Closure off 2011’s album Reckless and Relentless.  Danny joins them on stage and launches into the vocals.  The crowd was jumping, singing, and I did see a few tears of joy from some.  AA has been the soundtrack through life for so many for many years.  Having formed originally in Dubai, UAE they moved to York, North Yorkshire, UK before settling in the USA.  Their set was full of their hits from their history and the crowd ate it up.  The set consisted of:

1. Closure
2. Alone Again
3. Bad Blood
4. Down to Hell
5. Into the Fire
6. Where Did It Go?
7. Dark Void
8. I Want It That Way (Backstreet Boys cover)
9. Someone, Somewhere (Acoustic)
10. Moving On (Acoustic Intro)
11. The Violence
12. Let Go
13. To the Stage
14. A Prophecy
15. The Final Episode (Let’s Change the Channel)
16. Alone in a Room

ASKING ALEXANDRIA

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