L.S. Dunes and others at The Factory in St. Louis, Missouri on November 28th, 2023.
Photos and Review by The Pit Magazine Contributor Sevauna Photography
L.S. Dunes is a supergroup was formed during the COVID-19 pandemic and consists of members of past bands we all know and love. The Sound of Animals Fighting vocalist Anthony Green, with My Chemical Romance guitarist Frank Iero, Coheed and Cambria guitarist Travis Stever, bassist Tim Payne, and drummer Tucker Rule from the band Thursday. Long-awaited, they finally made their live debut during the 2022 Riot Fest with their debut album “Past Lives”. They have been continuing with releases as well as tour dates since then.
As they went into their first song “Permanent Rebellion”, it was evident that many fans were cheering for single members from their past roles, especially for Iero with his past in My Chemical Romance. He, Stever, and Payne meshed perfectly together. He also did some background vocals, as well as a few verses in multiple songs. The opening guitar riffs of “Grey Veins” rang through the venue and fans were going crazy. The lights shifted from pale oranges to dreamy blues and purples. As the chorus hit, Green went wild headbanging and dancing across the stage while Iero came in for vocals. They finished up their 10-song set with “Old Wounds”, the energy on and off stage still electric.
DAYSEEKER
Post-hardcore sensation, Dayseeker, who formed in 2012 from the west coast, released multiple demos before signing with InVogue Records and releasing their debut album in 2013, “What It Means to Be Defeated”. They now have four studio albums that have all received great praise.
Four songs into their set, they had made every member in the pit a fan, all swaying their arms together during “Without Me”. They took an intermission for a happy birthday song to drummer Mike Karle. Dipping back into their set, lead singer Rory Rodriguez showed off his large vocal range and long screams during “Crying While You’re Dancing”. Rodriguez took a moment to thank the crowd, in shock they were able to perform for a larger venue. He recalled playing at quite a small venue here in St. Louis called The Fubar. It is well-known enough to have the crowd in cheers for the band’s growth. They closed their set with “Neon Grave”, which was dedicated to Rodriguez’s father who was lost to cancer. The crowd absolutely adored this group, myself included!
DESTROY BOYS
Destroy Boys were first up, while fans were still shuffling in trying to get out of the chilly weather. From Sacramento, California, this young group consisting of two singers and two guitarists has made a name for themselves. They were nominated for multiple awards in 2017 in the Sacramento Area Music Awards, just two years into forming the band. Their one-of-a-kind name was born when singer Violet Mayugba was having relationship troubles. She scribbled the words destroy boys “very nicely in cursive” on a chalk wall.
The heavy guitar riffs of “Drink” were the first to fill the venue. The band instantly had an infectious energy to the fans in the pit. Singer Alexia Roditis‘s piercing vocals meshed perfectly with their sound. Once they reached “Beg For The Torture” in their set, Mayugba is known for her headbanging but insisted the fans headbang for her because of a neck injury. With just a seven-song set, they had the crowd wild with their deep-cut lyrics and hardcore sound. A perfect way to start the night!
Photos by The Pit Magazine photographer Sevauna Photography in St. Louis, Missouri. ©2023.
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