When you’re in the music industry, you see a LOT of different artists. You experience different crowds and different acts. Some of them start to blend in from one to the next… but every now and then, you see/hear one and think to yourself, “Damn. These guys are going places!” Seeing Nothing More live definitely gave me that thought.
To be honest, I can’t even remember who I saw Nothing More open for the first time. The details I do remember are that it was in 2014 at The Fillmore in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Nothing More absolutely stole the show. You don’t really know what to expect when you see steampunk-esque styled snares across the stage… When I left that show, I told EVERYBODY and their mother to go see this band given any opportunity. It was with good reason and no surprise to me when their name started popping up on every festival lineup that year.
Needless to say, this year’s Carolina Rebellion was far from the first time I had seen Nothing More live. While some elements remained the same, they also had a few refreshes in store.
The first major change to note was a different drummer. I took it to heart when former drummer Paul O’Brien parted ways with Nothing More last year. Thankfully, this was one of the rare instances of also being able to appreciate and embrace the replacement, Ben Anderson. See, I had the pleasure of meeting Ben waaaay back in 2012 at a hole in the wall venue while he was touring with a smaller band. A couple years later, I saw him playing with Letters From The Fire and was surprised he remembered me. I ran into him again on this festival run and had to laugh when he was the one to greet me with, “Do you remember me?” Of course I do! And it’s been awesome to watch his progression and see him out with a band unquestionably on the uprise.
The second surprise was “Let ‘Em Burn,“ a new song from Nothing More’s upcoming album The Stories We Tell Ourselves. Their self-titled album will be a challenge to follow up, but that song and the teasers they’ve been posting have me anxiously awaiting the September release.
The third surprise fell into the category of reasons why I tell everyone I can about this band. If you ever saw Nothing More prior to this year, you’ve probably heard of The Bassinator. Well, this year, The Bassinator got left at home and instead we met The Scorpion Tail.
The Scorpion Tail is an insane addition to vocalist Jonny Hawkins’ already unique drums. Jonny jumps on his drums and pulls up the tail while the entire drumkit launches up. Once in place, Jonny controls electronics and instruments with various buttons and levers, allowing Nothing More to deliver a memorable cover of Skrillex’s “First of the Year.”
In a world of music that has been done and done again, Nothing More found a way to set themselves (and their live show) apart. Lyrically, vocally, musically, plus DIY creativity – this band is unparallelled. So here I am to say it again. If you haven’t seen them yet, do so! And if you’ve seen them and you’re addicted like me… don’t miss out on the new album pre-orders!
Check out more of my photos from Carolina Rebellion!
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Hi, I'm Lizzy!
I'm a rainbow haired music photographer, travel blogger and graphic designer... but unlike many others, I haven't quit my day job! I'm currently living in Barbados, sharing my favorite beach photos, experiences, adventures and just hoping to add a little color and inspiration to your life!
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