Badflower Turn In Spectacular Performance In Grand Rapids

Badflower made an exceptional appearance at 20 Monroe Live in Grand Rapids on Wednesday March 6th. The band is joined on The Truth Tour by terrific likes of Palisades, Of Mice And Men, and Nothing More.

Badflower are touring in support of their debut LP, “OK, I’m Sick”, which dropped last month. As a treat to fans, the tremendous music was available as a limited edition color album pre-order with signed packaging. Signed CDs were available at the night’s merch booth as well.

Badflower is a voice for the panicked, a voice for the anxious, a voice for voiceless animals, but above all, a voice for those of us who are ready to rock and roll. Badflower’s recent release touched on love, loss, abusive fathers, anti-Trump, and staying young (to name a few topics). The album houses shades and shadows of some great heavy dark dweller musicians of my own generation, and a sound truly their own. When I listed to the album for the first time on a janky record player with a bottle of wine, I heard a bassline reminisce of Tool in one song, the darkness of NIN in another, a scale in “Heroin” that shouts out “Karma Police” before Thom Yorke sighs a “phew”, the vocal power of Gerard Way throughout…. But nonetheless (and I’m sure so many artists at times detest comparisons) a sound 100% Badflower. I cannot wait to see how this band evolves, and where they go from here.

On a cold Grand Rapids evening after Palisades started the show in rocking fashion, Badflower took to the stage and began their night with “x Ana x”, the first track from “Ok, I’m Sick”.

When frontman Josh Katz stepped on the stage, arms outstretched, panic disorder be damned! The rock and roll vegan was a beacon of lead singer greatness. Badflower brought a full sound that translated album to stage effortlessly.
Next up, Badflower presented two tracks from 2018’s EP, “Temper”. During which, Josh threw in a back bend that would make Lyn-Z proud.
Fourth in their set, Badflower rocked hard with “Die” and encouraged the crowd to clap along to end out the final chorus.

”I get the feeling that some of you tonight are familiar with us, you know who we are.” The band started into emotional track, “Heroin”.
After the song wrapped, Josh addressed the audience with, “How many of you have debilitating panic or depression and had to force yourself out of the house today?”
After a roar from the crowd he said, “Same… This is a song for all of you who screamed for that.”
Badflower then began into their massive track, “Ghost”. The whole audience seemed to sing along in unison.

Josh Katz thanked concert goers and continued, “I gotta tell you Grand Rapids, for reasons that I’m not going to go into right now, I think this might be the most authentic Badflower show anybody has ever seen… I hope you come back and see us again.”
The amazing band closed out their set with “Animal”, also from “Temper”. Every musician was feeling each note of the music.

The show was an absolute joy to witness, and I’ve felt so grateful to welcome Badflower to my playlists.
Badflower will return to Michigan for Riff Fest at DTE Energy Music Theatre on July 13th, alongside Shinedown, Seether, Sevendust and more. In addition, they will be continuing The Truth Tour across the US through March 23rd.

 

 

 

Words and photos by: Tiffany Cuthrell

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