Icon for Hire headlined a sold-out show at Fete Music Hall in Providence, RI featuring Awake At Last, Sumo Cyco, and local opening band Young Other.
The openers were a local band Young Other based out of Massachusetts. They have recently been touring with Escape the Fate and at festivals before this local show. The crowd was dancing and moving with the band, it was clear their sound was a hit with the crowd. This band did not disappoint as an opener and we suspect we will be seeing more big things from them in the future.
Sumo Cyco… one word: WOW. If you hadn’t heard of this band before seeing them live, by the time their set was over you’d be a fan. The lead singer, Skye Sweetnam (Anyone else remember “Tangled Up in Me”?), or Sever as she’s known these days, demanded the attention of the crowd in the best way possible. She jumped into the crowd multiple times, even getting a shot at the bar one time, and interacted with the crowd to make it impossible to ignore her. The upbeat and catchy tunes had the crowd moving and if that wasn’t enough, the band’s energy and dance moves were the next push you needed to join in. Their sound was amazing and the performance was even better.
Awake At Last had a tough act to follow after Sumo Cyco lit up the stage but they held their own. The lead singer’s energy was more subdued, not running into the crowd and amping the crowd up to the same level but rather focusing on belting out their songs. Their music spoke for itself and they had people moving just the same. Something that stuck out was the drummer holding down the beat and keeping the band in line, all while smiling throughout, not an easy feat for a drummer. The guitarist and bass player on the left side of the stage had amazing energy and made you want to want to move too. We see big things coming from them in the future with their live sound.
Icon for Hire has been turning out catchy and spunky songs like “Make A Move,” “Get Well,” and “Off With Her Head” for over a decade now. Most fans heard of them with their debut album Scripted or their second self-titled album with the extra push on their previous record label and being featured on tours like Vans Warped Tour. These days, they are no longer signed and are doing things independently instead. They have continued to release songs that are still true to their original sound – catchy, sure to make you dance, and showing off Ariel’s sassy lyrics with both singing and rapping.
The band had the whole room dancing and singing along to their older songs and new releases alike. The lead singer Ariel had most of the room captivated. She did not need to beg for the crowd to sing along or dance – her presence and performance were enough to convince them. Her spunky and sassy personality shines through when singing the lyrics with her facial expressions and dance moves. The banter between Ariel and Shawn in between songs made it hard not to smile or laugh. It was enough to make the crowd want to join in, with some fans joining in on the conversation.
The night ended with Ariel bantering back and forth with the crowd saying that they were playing one last song for their two-song encore but they would play another song in September when they go on tour again. If the night ends with the crowd chanting “nine more songs” then that says it all.
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