Every Time I Die in Ottawa, Canada.

Do you know what Every Time I Die does best live? They completely wreck every single body within earshot. And each and every one of those bodies thank them for it. Not too long ago I saw them for the billionth time, this time in Ottawa, and had exactly that experience.

Two members of the band were held up at Canadian customs on the way to the show, so the opening acts were long since done and there was no real sign of the crowd dispersing. For almost Two Hours. That is the amount of time between the last band ending and Every Time I Die hitting the stage, due to those aforementioned delays. Now, most other bands, with so great a delay, would have shown up to an empty venue, but Buffalo, New York’s finest, with the barest of hints that the show would, indeed, go on, played to a full god damned house.

Now, it had been a fair few, maybe two and half, years since last I saw the Buckley boys and Co. tear up a stage and, delays or no, this show did nothing but remind me why Every Time I Die still stands as one of my all time favorite bands, live or otherwise. From start to finish they maintained their signature boisterousness, drawing forth smiles usually reserved for those who have reached a state of zen enlightenment from nearly every face my eye took in. Bodies smashed into bodies, throats were made bloody and raw, and a brilliant time was had by all. And I do mean all. It honestly seemed like more people showed up for their very nearly cancelled show than had been there in the hours preceding. I cannot remember the last time I was so thick in the mix of exalted exhalations and vivacious vibrations as I was that night and I would not trade it for anything.

If ever you find yourself with a chance to watch Every Time I Die destroy a venue, do yourself a favor and dive in face first.

daveSMASH / MOVEMENTnorth