Semester Two Is In Session: The Return of Metalcore Dropouts

By Melanie Mae Bryan

The Metalcore Dropouts tour is back in session for a second leg in 2024! The epic lineup includes metalcore veterans The Devil Wears Prada and Fit For a King co-headlining, and support from Counterparts and AVOID. Starting in Kansas City, MO, and spanning the majority of the US and parts of Canada, the tour runs until late February, concluding in Minneapolis, MN.

I arrived at The Ritz in Raleigh, NC this past Friday night. The Ritz is a modest 12,000 square-foot venue in the heart of Raleigh. It has a capacity of 1,400 but metalcore fans of all ages sold it out with ease on this unusually warm evening. It was the perfect weather for the perfect show.

AVOID

It’s always a party when AVOID comes to play! The hard-rock band is based out of Seattle and, according to all of their social media, “kicks ass.” AVOID aren’t afraid to experiment with their sound, and have wildly fun music videos as well. They’re here for a good time, and were the perfect band to kick off this evening! Things got rowdy pretty quickly, and included vocalist Benny Scholl crowd surfing among the rabid fans. I have just 3 words for you – AVOID kicks ass!

COUNTERPARTS

Canadian melodic hardcore band Counterparts was next! Formed in 2007, the band has been a major force in the metalcore scene throughout the years. Wasting no time in getting their audience going, they launched right into “Love Me”. They were a true force of nature onstage, getting the crowd hyped up for the rest of the night.

FIT FOR A KING

Fit For A King, made up of Bobby Lynge, Ryan Kirby, Ryan “Tuck” O’Leary, Daniel Gailey, and Trey Celaya, was formed in Texas in 2007. Their impressive discography boasts 7 albums and 2 EP’s. FFAK came out swinging to End (The Other Side). The audience was loving every second, to which vocalist Ryan Kirby exclaimed, “We haven’t even gotten to the heavy stuff yet!” Their set was raw energy from start to finish, and the crowd-surfing was at an all-time high!

SETLIST: End (The Other Side) / Breaking the Mirror / Falling Through The Sky / The End’s Beginning / Pissed Off / Backbreaker / Reaper / Eyes Roll Back / Keeping Secrets / Shattered Glass / Deathgrip / Vendetta / When Everything Means Nothing / God of Fire (with AVOID)

FOLLOW FIT FOR A KING:

Website / Instagram / Facebook / Spotify

THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA

The Devil Wears Prada, made up of Jeremy DePoyster, Mike Hranica, Kyle Sipress, Jonathan Gering, Giuseppe Capolupo, and Mason Nagy, was formed in 2005 out of Dayton, Ohio. They have released eight studio albums thus far: Dear Love (2006), Plagues (2007), With Roots Above and Branches Below (2009), Dead Throne (2011), 8:18 (2013), Transit Blues (2016), The Act (2019), and Color Decay (2022).

One thing that I’ve learned over the years is that TDWP are a powerhouse of energy, and their shows are not to be missed! Their electrifying performance began with “Exhibition”, and the crowd matched their energy. The setlist featured a perfect mix of their iconic hits and newer tracks, showcasing the band’s evolution. One highlight for me was hearing my favorite song from them, “Salt”. Overall, this was a crazy night of headbanging, circle pits, and more crowdsurfing than I’ve ever seen at a show! This is not a tour to be missed for any metalcore fan.

SETLIST: Exhibition / Watchtower / Danger: Wildman / Salt / Broken / Reaching / Reasons / Hallucinate / Outnumbered / Dez Moines / Chemical / Sacrifice

ENCORE: Hey John, What’s Your Name Again?

FOLLOW TDWP:

Website / Instagram / Facebook / Spotify

TOUR DATES:

Jan. 16 – Kansas City, MO – Uptown Theater

Jan. 17 – Fayetteville, AR – JJ’s Live

Jan. 19 – Cincinnati, OH – Bogart’s

Jan. 20 – Milwaukee, WI – The Rave

Jan. 21 – Cleveland, OH – House Of Blues

Jan. 23 – Buffalo, NY – Town Ballroom

Jan. 24 – Albany, NY – Empire Live

Jan. 26 – Harrisburg, PA – HMAC