Bayside, Finch, Armor for Sleep, and Winona Fighter Hammer House of Blues Anaheim [Photos]

Bayside joined Finch, Armor for Sleep, and Winona Fighter for a string of U.S. dates dubbed “The Worse Things Than Being Alive Tour.” The tour celebrated Bayside’s new album, There are Worse Things Than Being Alive (released April 5, 2024).

Until this outing, it had been nearly 20 years since Bayside had played a show with Finch or Armor for Sleep, two emo bands that had also entered the post-hardcore scene around the same time. House of Blues in Anaheim, California, was one of three Southern California stops on the tour, and like the Los Angeles and San Diego shows, there was a big turnout.

The opener, Winona Fighter, played a short yet memorable set. The Nashville-based pop-punk trio dished out an energetic and highly enjoyable performance for those who arrived early.

New Jersey’s emo/post-hardcore quartet Armor for Sleep kicked off their set with “Remember to Feel Real” from 2005’s What to Do When You Are Dead, followed by the title track of their 2003 debut album, Dream to Make Believe. The Anaheim crowd responded wildly, and it quickly became apparent that they had a lot of fans in the audience; as singer/guitarist and founding member Ben Jorgensen belted out the songs, the crowd echoed the words back.

Temecula, California’s post-hardcore band Finch, played a set of classics that included “What It Is to Burn” and “Letters to You,” along with other strong tracks. Much like Armor for Sleep, Finch had helped to define the genre in the 2000s and then disbanded, dipping into a period of obscurity until recent years.

After a schmaltzy lead-in (Frank Sinatra singing “My Way”), Bayside came out big with “Pigsty,” and then “Montauk” really shook it loose as Jack O’Shea (stage left) played the first bonafide guitar solo of the night in what would be a 21-song set. The energy exchange between the band and audience was unparalleled and “Interrobang” gave the crowd a taste of the dueling guitars of O’Shea and vocalist/guitarist Anthony Raneri.

So many Bayside classics followed, such as “Castaway” and “The Devils,” new cuts from There are Worse Things Than Being Alive. Closing this memorable set were “They Looked Like Strong Hands” and “Devotion and Desire” from the band’s 2005 self-titled album. This amazing show proved that Bayside still has plenty of gas in its tank.

Bayside (w/ Armor For Sleep, Finch, Winona Fighter) @ House of Blues (Anaheim, CA) on April 19, 2024

45 photos