Asking Alexandria // Live @ Bogart's // 10.4.24 -

Article and Photos: Linda Carlson

Cincinnati, OH – Cincinnati’s Bogart’s hosted the All My Friends Tour, featuring headliner Asking Alexandria with support from Memphis May Fire. The Word Alive and Archers. The venue was bustling with a large crowd on a stunner of a Friday night. The crowd continued to grow throughout the evening.

Opening the evening was Archers, hailing from Madison, Wisconsin. The band brought plenty of metalcore passion, with vocalist Nathanael Pulley, guitarist Ben Koehler, bassist Oscar Arankai, and drummer Grayson Mesarosh.

Following Archers was The Word Alive, a Phoenix metal band formed in 2008, oddly without any of the founding members remaining. The lineup now consists of long-time vocalist Tyler Smith (since 2009), guitarist Jose DelRio, and drummer Daniel Nelson. Smith is a dynamic frontman, putting forth an impassioned, emotional performance.

Then, just before Asking Alexandria hit the stage, Texas metalcore band Memphis May Fire performed a demonstrably wild set, with plenty of bursting jets of smoke to add visual energy to the already powered set. Lead singer Matty Mullins was joined by lead guitarist Kellen McGregor, bassist Cory Elder and Jake Garland on drums. Mullins is pulling double duty as touring lead singer for alternative rock band Anberlin, as well.

Headliner Asking Alexandria, with Danny Worsnop on lead vocals, fully captivated the crowd. Worsnop paced back and forth across the raised platform that traversed the entire front of the stage. He owned that catwalk for the full set.

Early in the set, a stage hand came onto the stage with a drumskin for Worsnop to sign. It was an unusual moment, but Worsnop signed the skin and then shrugged, saying it was likely to be at the merch booth later. Not a bad marketing strategy.

Worsnop started the set wearing sunglasses and a baseball cap, quite a divergence from his brief respite from the band to front We Are Harlot in the mid 2010s. There, he channeled a 1960s free-spirited hippie vibe; but here, reunited with Asking Alexandria, he commanded the stage with complete metal-saturated strength.

The band’s current lineup mirrors its 2009 roster, with Worsnop, guitarist Cameron Liddell, bassist Sam Bettley and James Cassells on drums. The band performed a set that brought the audience on a journey from resounding highs to acoustic quiet moments, and again to reverberating heights. Crowdsurfing served as a testament to the spirited energy the band inspired.

Worsnop shared stories throughout the set, including a reference to “James,” who had requested his own favorite song for the Cincinnati show – a song that Worsnop had not intended to perform. To dissuade James, Worsnop told James that he would perform the song if James would send him a photo of his… privates, front and back, shall we say… telling the crowd that there was no way James would comply. Then, he finished the story with, “So, here’s James’ favorite song!” The crowd burst into cheers. Those kinds of moments endear fans to a band.

The All My Friends Tour rages on! Following the completion of the North American segment in early November, the tour resumes in December after a short break, taking Europe by storm with Falling in Reverse, Our Last Night and Tech N9ne accompanying Asking Alexandria. Check band websites for tour dates near you.

Check the image carousel below for more photos from the Cincinnati show.