Hard-core concert
Devil Wears Prada sells out in LaHaye Event Space
The Christian metalcore band The Devil Wears Prada gave a wall-shaking performance March 5 in the LaHaye Event Space. The band’s music utilizes musical screaming and a heavy use of guitar and bass, which made the venue shake with vibrations.
Full house — The three Christian metalcore bands performed March 5 to a sold-out crowd of more than 700 people. Photo credit: Michela Diddle
The Devil Wears Prada formed in Ohio in 2005 and has released five full-length albums. According to Student Activities (SA), students have requested the band for years, and this concert was its first time performing at Liberty University. The concert was sold-out with more than 700 people in attendance.
“As soon as I found out they were coming, I bought tickets,” senior Hunter Layne said.
Boughtxblood, read as “bought by blood,” opened the show with Pathway Home playing after them. Both bands fall into the Christian metalcore genre, and both are from Lynchburg.
Between songs, Boughtxblood shouted spiritual messages to the sold-out crowd.
“There’s nothing more important than knowing if you’re saved or going to hell!” Boughtxblood vocalist Alvin Triplett said.
The bands that performed are comprised of Christians using their music to talk about God. Junior Josh Brown, who attended the concert, was glad to see musicians from this type of genre
at Liberty.
“It’s good to see Liberty open (its) doors to something new, something different,” Brown said. “It’s good to see the biggest Christian university in the world start opening up to that.”
In the middle of the venue, a large mosh pit formed at the beginning of the show and did not disappear until the show finished two and a half hours later. Sophomore Conley Runions was excited that SA presented this type of show.
“I’m actually so happy that they brought them in,” Runions said. “It’s great to have different influences of culture coming to bring us music. I mosh at almost every metal concert, and I’m so happy and ready for it.”
The Devil Wears Prada performed for more than 40 minutes, interrupting their music set to remind the crowd of the importance of faith over all else. Vocalist Jeremy Depoyster asked the crowd to focus on God over politics.
Junior Adie Hayes, who attended the concert while working for SA, had a positive view of The Devil Wears Prada.
“A lot of people who came here are students, and it’s a sold-out show,” Hayes said. “This band, they’re Christians, but a lot of non-Christians listen to them.”
The crowd was comprised of Liberty students, students from surrounding colleges, and general fans of The Devil Wears Prada. Some students, like sophomore John Maund, wanting more shows like this.
“This is perfect,” Maund said. “This is what they need.”
Moyer is a feature reporter.