Nothing More Is Pure Excitement!

‘Twas the night before Easter when Nothing More brought their Spirit 2023 tour to the Palladium in Worcester Mass. You could tell this was going to be a very special night. I walked into the venue a half hour before the show started and the house was already filled. Kudos to the venue staff for getting so many folks inside in only a half hour.

Opening the show was San Diego’s Thousand Below. Formed in 2016, they’ve released 3 studio albums including 2022’s “Hell Finds You Everywhere”. Their lyrics confront life’s struggles head on with strong post hardcore musical backing. Their set was short but they did their job superbly. They energized the crowd and set them up for a night of musical madness!

Crown The Empire was next to experience the energy of the crowd and they gave it right back. The metalcore act was formed in Dallas TX back in 2010 and has released 4 studio albums with #5, Dogma, on the way shortly. Their set was full of grinding growling chunks of musical mayhem that the audience ate up. The band has recently endured some social media allegations but have risen above them in a professional manner. They put them aside and delivered a set that was worthy of a headlining act.

In their early years, Nothing More performed extensively in Texas and released two independent albums, “Shelter” in 2004 and “Save You/Save Me” in 2006. In 2009, Nothing More signed with Vestia Entertainment and released their third album, “The Few Not Fleeting.” This album was produced by David Bendeth and featured the singles “Gone” and “Salem.” In 2013, the band signed with Eleven Seven Music and released their self-titled album “Nothing More.” The album featured the hit singles “This Is the Time (Ballast)” and “Mr. MTV.” In 2017, Nothing More released their fourth album, “The Stories We Tell Ourselves,” which debuted at number 15 on the Billboard 200. The album featured the singles “Go to War” and “Just Say When.” The band won three awards at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards for “Best Rock Performance,” “Best Rock Song,” and “Best Rock Album.”

Nothing More is on the road promoting their latest release, “Spirits”. Reviews have been mixed but you would never know by the wild reaction of the fans to the latest songs in Nothing More’s live repertoire. The band addresses some serious societal issues in “Spirits” such as the internet’s hold on how people view things, something Crown The Empire knows all too well. Nothing More also asks people to look deeper and not take things at face value. People tend to run with what they hear and not investigate, a serious detriment to the well being of mankind these days.

Nothing More hit the stage shortly after 9:00 and the venue erupted! known for its high-energy and interactive nature. The band’s dynamic live performances often include intricate instrumental arrangements, impressive vocal harmonies, and engaging stage theatrics and this night was no exception! Front man Jonny Hawkins and the band exuded pure non-stop energy throughout their set.

The crowd surfers were out in force and Jonny loved it. He gave fist bumps to surfers and even took a selfie with one of the band’s faithful fans as she arrived in the pit via “airmail”. The band is as much a visually stimulating band as it is aurally. Hawkins, shirtless and adorned with body paint, was a non-stop whirlwind of energy. He rarely remains in one spot for long. Guitarist Mark Vollengua interacted with the crowd up close and personal. At one point he jumped off the stage and moved about the photo pit and stood at the rail, playing right in front of the adoring fans.

A big part of the visual aspect of the band is when Hawkins “Rides the Scorpion Tail”. This is a mechanical contraption built from scrap metal and auto parts. Jonny can manipulate the band’s sounds as well as his own voice as the beast writhes about through the air. The crowd went wild whenever Jonny took to the air.

If you’ve never seen Nothing More, you owe it to yourself to do so. The band feeds off the energy of the crowd like no other. Their music is as infectious as Jonny’s smile. They have taken various musical styles and concocted pure rock and roll enjoyment! For upcoming dates, click HERE. Hopefully, you will find a show near you!