Take Action Tour gives a close and personal show

By Nadine Rodriguez
Staff Writer

The Take Action Tour is an annual spring concert created back in 1999, with bands such as Jimmy Eat World and Coheed And Cambria performing across the nation. What makes this tour differ from others, however, is its purpose.

The Take Action Tour’s goal is to spread awareness about teen suicide and ways to prevent it. Recently, they have also begun educating people about sexually transmitted diseases.

This year, along with a powerful message, the Take Action Tour brought along bands like Memphis May Fire, Crown the Empire, Dance Gavin Dance and Palisades to each stop. With such energetic groups, there was not a dull moment Saturday March 14 in the Polish-American Social Club of Vero Beach.

Palisades stepped out onto the small stage circa 7 p.m. The crowd was riled up, dancing fanatically around to the haunting rhythms of their hit songs “Player Haters’ Ball” and “Bad Girls.”

It wasn’t long until the small size of the stage became evident. Fans were falling onto the stage, landing against amps and bumping into band members. Instead of discomfort or annoyance, Palisades actually expressed excitement and love for the chaos, as did the bands that followed. The lack of space in the cozy venue was creating a show so personal that it was almost unbelievable.

Once Palisades retired backstage, Dance Gavin Dance emerged. Once again, the crowd was energetic, screaming along to every lyric. Fans once again fell onto the stage, but helpful hands from their favorite band members helped them up and off the stage.

As soon Dance Gavin Dance exited, a new sense of excitement settled in. It was no secret that Crown the Empire and Memphis May Fire were the two main bands of the tour. So when Crown The Empire’s drummer, Brent Taddie, emerged from the red curtains at the end of the stage, the screams reached a new level. The rest of the band soon followed, jumping straight into one of their hit songs, “Initiation.”

The energy was palpable, the smiles on lead singer’s Andy Leo and David Escamilla’s faces were radiant, matching the ones dispersed through the crowd, complimenting teary, fanatic eyes. In all, the band played 12 songs ending the set with their trademark, “The Fallout.”

Now the tired crowd awaited the final band, Memphis May Fire, who are known for their emotional, honest lyrics and songs such as “Miles Away” and “Speechless.” The crowd went wild when the red curtain dropped and revealed the elevated drum set and lead singer Matty Mullins standing in front of it.

From afar, the crowd appeared as one, giant jumping mass of outstretched hands and screams. It was clear that both the crowd and the band loved the show, Mullins darting to and from each side of the stage, holding fan’s hands and singing to them.

Midway through the show, Mullins stated that each person in the room that night was beautiful, and whether or not they believed it, they deserved to live and to find their purpose.

Needless to say, his statement caused any dying energy in the crowd to come back to life, the fans joining in to chant the final two songs, “Without Walls” and “Legacy.”

Overall, the Vero Beach stop on the Take Action Tour was one to remember. The small size of the venue provided a raw closeness with the bands that led to a personal, transparent encounter.

This show was what concerts are all about; those fleeting, personal moments where a fan’s favorite lead singer stretches out his hand to her and the two sing a verse with their faces only inches apart.