ION INDIE MAGAZINE January 2016, Volume 20 | Page 51

Opening up the show was the group NECK DEEP (HOPELESS
RECORDS/Independent)--a band formed in the UK in Wrexham,
North Wales, in 2012. The front man for Neck Deep, BEN
BARLOW, wanted the crowd to start a mosh pit. I opted out…as I
wasn't currently desiring to get myself killed, but many others
jumped into action. All of the members from Neck Deep were very
energetic and they really put their hearts into their performance.
I had no idea what to expect when they first came out on stage,
but I was really impressed--the music sounded fantastic and the vocals were killer! Each member was
engaged and jumped around like mad--really setting the tone for the rest of the night. Besides Barlow, Neck
Deep’s lineup consists of: MATT WEST (Guitar), FIL THORPE-EVANS (Bass) and DANI WASHINGTON (Drums).
Up next was the band SLEEPING WITH SIRENS (RISE
RECORDS/Independent), who were founded in Orlando, Florida, in
2009. And they did not waste anytime…starting off the night with
their song “Kick Me”, off their new album “Madness”, released in
early 2015. The crowd went absolutely berserk! The room came ALIVE
with crowd-surfing fans, and the pit of the stage was straining at the
seams. At one point KELLIN QUINN had to ask everyone to take a few
steps back so that other people--specifically, me (yes, he WAS talking
to me directly!)--weren't smothered. Besides Kellin, members of
Sleeping With Sirens are: JACK FOWLER (Guitar), GABE BARHAM
(Drums), JUSTIN HILLS (Bass) and NICK MARTIN (Guitar).