Epic
by Mike on 10/25/23Culture Room - Ft LauderdalePresenting the e ticket was Just simple and easy. The band was great as well
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The Showbox
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Roseland Theater
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First Avenue
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The Rave-Eagles Club
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Royale Boston
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Brooklyn Steel
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Union Transfer
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The Orange Peel
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ANIMALS AS LEADERS IN CONCERT:
Apex predators Animals as Leaders represent the next evolution in progressive metal with their bone crushing power, lightning speed, and mind-blowing creativity. In concert, Tosin Abasi and Javier Reyes both play massive 8-string guitars that allow them to hold down crushing bass lines and soaring leads simultaneously. Reyes tends to handle more of the low-end duties while Abasi shreds furiously over the top, a master of both syncopated complexity and direct melodicism. Drummer Matt Garstka pounds out massive rhythms, fluid transitions, and furious fills to keep ticket buyers’ heads banging throughout AAL’s epic sets. Fresh off the 2014 release of The Joy of Motion and touring with the likes of Between the Buried and Me and The Contortionist, Animals as Leaders are continuing their climb up the heavy metal food chain.
BACKGROUND SNAPSHOT:
Animals as Leaders formed in Washington, D.C. in 2007 when Tosin Abasi left his previous band Reflux. Prosthetic Records noticed his prodigious talent and offered to produce an instrumental album of his guitar work. Instead of taking the generous offer, he opted to hone his skills at the Atlanta Institute of Music, which took his playing to staggering new heights. He recorded Animals as Leaders’ self-titled debut in 2009, immediately attracting attention in guitar circles due to his unprecedented and unconventional gift for rhythm, melody, and harmony. Abasi found a talented guitar foil in Javier Reyes, who joined AAL in 2009 to ease the transition from recording project to touring band. Drummer Matt Garstka solidified their lineup in time for their 2012 tour schedule and held down the drums for the group’s critically praised third album The Joy of Motion (2014).
Presenting the e ticket was Just simple and easy. The band was great as well
Great show! Great choice of set list. They're sounded really tight and brought a bunch of energy in their playing. Culture Room Fort Lauderdale is a great venue. The sound is always great in the crowd. This band is awesome. Such a clean performance!
The opening act and the main act were literally the best 3 pieces I’ve ever seen, and arguably the best live bands around!
Concert was amazing but the VIP experience wasn’t really worth it. We only got in like 5 minutes before the normal line and we still had to wait out in the heat as well.
Phenomenal performance. This is my 3rd time seeing animals as leaders live and they haven't disappointed me yet. The energy of the crowd was tremendous. The opening act Jonathan Scales Fourchetra was fantastic. Any time AAL comes to town... I'll be there!
I thought the show was excellent; however, they seemed more traditional metal than “Prog Metal”. By the 4th or 5th song everything started to sound the same. The one thing I didn’t like is they had too much lighting for such a small venue. You were blinded by the lights and couldn’t see the band from the floor. Lastly, the band before Animals, “Jonathan Scales Fourchestra” is a “Must” see. This 3 piece blew us away. If you’re a Stanley Clarke, Victor Wooten or Snarky Puppy fan you will absolutely love these guys. Personally I enjoyed their set more than Animals.
Due to the cesspool that is New Orleans we will never be back for another concert at any venue. No matter how great the show is, it’s never a good time to come back to your vehicle destroyed because of the incredibly high crime rate. Especially when it happens in a very nice parking lot provided by the ticket seller.
One of the best live performances I've ever seen: the playing was phenomenal and the light show was tastefully done. The incense was a unique addition that I thought was great. However, the second opening band's lightshow was terrible, I had to keep my eyes closed for half of it, just bright strobe lights making it really unpleasant.
One of my favorite concert experiences ever and I would be thrilled to see them come back one day :)
one of the best concerts i've been to. acoustics were decent. venue was nice