Written by: Cristina Carrazza, Regional Head- Midwest

When I interviewed There For Tomorrow at the Take Action Tour, the guys made it clear that they are not your regular punk rock band. They want to make music that matters, that has an impact. In the words of drummer Chris Kamrada, “we try to leave a hopeful feeling with all of our listeners. We want them to be able to listen to our music and feel hopeful and create emotions in them that makes them feel like it’s always greener on the other side.” With an ambitious claim like this, I can’t help but be skeptical of these Florida punk-rockers. While their debut album A Little Faster showcases outstanding songwriting, can There For Tomorrow hold up to its name with their live show? After seeing the quartet’s opening set on the Rock Yourself To Sleep Tour I can surely say these guys are the real deal.

The quartet opened their set with their new single “Deathbed.” While this is a very strong track on their album, I was curious to see if it could be pulled of live since it heavily relies on backtracks and orchestral parts.  Needless to say, the song sounded even stronger. Following was “Wish You Away” which kept the crowd hooked with its guitar driven feel.

As soon as the guys transitioned into the opening chords of “Backbone,” it was clear this is a fan favorite. The very catchy tune criticizes people who favor fame over integrity – lyrics that clearly reflect the There For Tomorrow way. Although this song is falls short in the studio version, its live performance was impressive. Dedicated to the “There For Tomorrow family in the audience” was the only song off their self-titled EP, “Remember When.” Although I was pretty disappointed on this choice, the band did not disappoint with its performance.

Perhaps my favorite moment of the night was the interlude that transitioned into “Stories.” Showcasing Maika Maile’s flawless voice, it definitely built up momentum and caught the audience’s attention before progressing to the opening guitar riff. “Stories” is another song that demonstrates what There For Tomorrow hopes to do, create a hopeful and impacting feeling in its listeners.  Its lyrics urge the listener to tell their stories: “tell me what to tell you when the world won’t listen.” It is moments like this in their set that display the potential of this band.

Slowing things down was an acoustic solo performance of “Burn The Night Away.” Again, this was an opportunity for Maika to show off his voice.  While he was finishing, the rest of the band joined him and transitioned right into “A Little Faster.” With its catchy guitar beats and strong rhythm, There For Tomorrow ended their set with a bang and left the audience wanting more.

After watching their set, I can confidently say that There For Tomorrow is one of the most underrated bands in the punk rock scene. Without a doubt, they had the strongest performance of the night. How these guys are still a support act is beyond me. The reaction from their fans, and the fact that they are collectively referred to as the There For Tomorrow family, is evidence this band truly impacts the people they reach have reached. There For Tomorrow may not be the most popular band out there, but they are definitely one of the most passionate I have seen in a long time. I look forward to seeing what the future has in store for them.