Asking Alexandria & The Hu Bring “Psycho Thunder” Tour to NJ
Asking Alexandria and The HU co-headlined their Psycho Thunder Tour this fall. They made a pit stop at Sayreville, New Jersey, to the iconic Starland Ballroom, and I couldn’t be happier. They brought along Zero 9:36 with them as an opener. Starland is one of my favorite venues not only to attend concerts but to take photos at as well. The security and staff are always charming and extremely helpful. Sadly, the venue wasn’t as packed as expected because it was at the same time as a major festival in New Jersey. Still, I’m sure the rest of the dates will be packed because it was a fantastic show!
Zero 9:36 is the stage name for Matthew Cullen, who took the stage first and blew me away. Zero 9:36 is from Philadelphia, and his music can be categorized into many genres. Rap, alternative, hip-hop, and many more. I love the versatility of his music and song lyrics. I always loved listening to their music and was excited to see them in person for the first time. He brought along a touring drummer and guitarist who also did backing vocals. This adds to the stage presence and helps add a level of hype to the set. I loved that the kick drum read Zero 9:36, which built up the hype for the set.
The HU took the stage next, and while I had never seen or heard their music before, I will never forget them after the unforgettable show they put on! The band had eight members, which was the most I had ever seen! Each member had a distinct role in the band and a different instrument. I knew once I saw the stage setup that this would be a show I would never forget. The band is from Mongolia and has a unique sound I have never heard before. Their name, The HU, is from the Mongolian word for human being.
Their first album came out in 2019, and since then, they have amassed 250 million streams combined. The band has had many sold-out shows worldwide and has been gaining attention quickly. It was hard to pick one band member to focus on since they all were fascinating to watch. I focused on the drummer at one point but would see the guitarist in the corner of my eye and become mesmerized. I never saw a band have two sets of drums before. One was the typical drum set I was used to seeing at rock shows, but the other was unique.
Finally, the band I anticipated most for the night came on, Asking Alexandria. Their lighting setup was immaculate and really set the scene. The lead singer of Asking Alexandria, Danny Worsnop, told me he loved my work and was kind enough to get me an additional pass to get more coverage! This really helped me to get shots from all around the venue. Side stage shots are a whole new ball game since you can capture the band members from the side instead of head-on from the pit.
They played a lot from their new album and some old songs. Danny expressed this to the fans, who were excited to hear they would be playing old songs. They played "A Prophecy" and "The Final Episode (Let’s Change the Channel)," which were personal favorites of mine off their first album in 2009, when I discovered the band. I love tours like this that aren’t album-specific, where the band will also play older songs for fans.
Danny said it would be the last song, and the crowd was visibly upset. Then he said we’ll go stand on the side stage. You’ll make a lot of noise, and then we’ll come out for two more songs. I thought this was hilarious since most fans know larger bands do encores, anyway. It was his way of joking around with his fan base, and I loved it. They finished the night with "Let Go," their most famous song off their 2017 self-titled album, with almost 100 million streams on Spotify called "Alone in a Room."
A group of four little kids stole the show for the night on the side stage. They were rocking out and jumping up and down for the entirety of the set. The band’s tour manager and security did a great job making it a special night for them. They even caught the band’s attention, and the band came over and gave them pics, drumsticks, and setlists at the end of the night!
This tour also celebrates their new album titled Where Do We Go From Here?, which came out over the summer. This new album is more aggressive than their older albums, which made me very happy. They played "Dark Void," which came out in May and became the most popular track on their new album. The band consists of Danny Worsnop on vocals, Ben Bruce on lead guitar, Cameron Liddell on guitar, Sam Bettley on bass, and James Cassells on drums. I met the band in person after the show, and they were all very kind. Sadly, Ben could not join the band due to a personal family matter. Still, his presence was definitely felt during the set.
The band also began an initiative to help fight hunger by partnering with local food banks. The band asks for non-perishable food items at each date to help out. After the show, the donations will go to local food banks in need. This is very important since it is starting to get colder. There are tour dates until October 8th. This is a show you want to attend; get tickets here!
