Beartooth @ Desert Diamond Arena

Nothing beats your first arena show. While this isn’t the Punk Pack's first arena in our shared experience, it is the first time we’ve been invited to cover a show of this magnitude. Even though approved for only one of the band’s of the night. The opportunity to photograph Beartooth at the Desert Diamond Arena is a big step up from some of the local shows we love. The logistics of such a large venue are still new to the Pack, so getting in and settled with enough time to reach the photo pit was a learning experience. Yet, our timing was perfect for Beartooth to take the stage.

Having been fans shortly after Beartooth’s formation in 2012, the Punk Pack were enraptured within the first few songs. By “In Between” we were locked in even if the crowd was still warming up. Caleb Shomo (Vocals) fights to break the pit out of its intermission haze, at one point demanding, “If you are on the floor, it is time to wake up!” which incited a second circle pit amongst the audience. Debuting a new song during this tour, “Free,” which sounds amazing live. Shomo’s voice is immensely powerful and he flaunts it on stage. Further proving it as he cast the mic away after giving another round of warm-ups to sing the vocalizations of “In Between” and getting a resounding response before thanking the crowd goodnight with only his diaphragm.

As we left the venue, the Punk Pack was bummed to have missed President though they’ll be having another local rally October 10th at the Van Buren. Though, the small taste we got of Bad Omens has turned us on to another fantastic band with hopes that the Punk Pack will be approved to cover them at another date. Beartooth, alone, was well worth the experience.

Addendum: In light of Beartooth’s front man, Caleb Shomo, coming out as gay on May 23rd; we with the Punk Pack support artists living their truth and Shomo’s announcement.