WORDS AND PHOTOS BY: TOBY HUGHES

Its been 10 years since the initial release of Between the Buried and Me released their chart topping album “Colors” and as they did in 2007, the band hit the road with the album in tow. This tour has been selling out dates and The Glass House in Pomona, CA on 10/08/17 was one of those. The pie wedge shaped room was packed with fans of all ages and types. Some had seen this album played in full back in 2007 and wanted to relive some memories and others came to get a first time taste. They brought along fellow genre similar friends, The Contortionist, Polyphia and Toothgrinder, and it was a night with zero complaints.

The venue was woken up right out of the gate with heavy progressive metal band Toothgrinder. They came in a close second to being the heaviest band on this bill, obviously BTBAM were the trophy takers. Polyphia brought the more dancier type of music to this night and everyone seemed to enjoy the different twist to the presentation of progressive rock meets hip hop. To find a calm before the storm, The Contortionist, who released a new album this past month, were that team who built up the momentum for the main event to come and close out the night.

With less than a minute before start time, the crowd got antsy and couldn’t contain themselves much further. The well known abbreviation, “BTBAM,” was shouted throughout the room as drummer Blake Richardson set himself up on his metal throne beside his illuminated Sabian Zodiac Gong. It was clear at that point that as much as everyone enjoyed the three preceding bands, this was exactly why they were there. Immediately the band started into the first track off “Colors” and the whole room time warped back 10 years. From start to finish this room did not let up. The pit was large and grew with each song played as did the crowd surfers and the amount of intensity in the room. At one point during the night, I even witnessed a blond wig being thrown throughout the crowd. Security at the front of the stage definitely were put to work that night.