The rock genre "emo" has almost become a curse word in the independent music world.
Emo, stemming from the original definition "emotional hardcore," originated in the mid-1990s from the "mellowing out" of hardcore bands and has swelled since to classify everything from Jimmy Eat World to the corporate-branded A Simple Plan.
No wonder emo fans are boiling beneath their black-rimmed glasses.
So it was a breath of relief for emo fans in Western New York as Coheed and Cambria, Rainer Maria, Funeral for a Friend and Brazil electrified a distinctly horn-rimmed crowd Friday at The Sphere Entertainment Complex.
While The Sphere may not have been the best venue - the horseshoe shaped two-tier structure allowed very few people a good view of the stage - the sold-out crowd didn't seem to mind.
The highlights of the show came earlier than expected, however, as Rainer Maria performed a short but tight set. Lead vocalist and bassist Caithlin DeMarrais and guitarist Kyle Fischer combined high-powered screaming and crying emo and indie rock with a soft poetic touch.
Rainer Maria - which also includes drummer William Kuehn - took a fresh look at raw music. They have the soul of old-school emo combined with tear-prodding lyrics to soften the blow.
Coheed and Cambria could take a lesson from their opener, however. While the crowd of vintage T-shirt clad kids went wild for the majority of the show, lead singer Claudio Sanchez's catchy and distinct voice became repetitive as the night wore on.
The crowd roared for their older hits such as "Devil in Jersey City" and "Delirium Trigger" from their 2002 album "The Second Stage Turbine Blade," though pieces from their 2003 release, "In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3" seemed to drone on and didn't elicit the same response.
Additional reporting by Erin Shultz
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
