Concert Recap: Cold - The "Year of the Spider" 20th Anniversary Tour, Jacksonville, NC (March 31, 2023)

Nostalgia has always been a big part of the music industry, whether its an element of sentimentality for fans or a lucrative source of revenue for executives. However, it feels as if a peak of some sort has been reached in recent years – as our favorite artists grow older, there are more live performance environments that serve as a source of reflection for both the musicians and fans, whether they’re anniversary events like AFI’s Sing the Sorrow show in California last month or an entire festival like When We Were Young, a weekender dedicated to a particular subgenre that was at peak popularity almost two decades ago. 

Jacksonville, North Carolina got a taste of that nostalgia last week as Florida-based alt-rock legends Cold took the stage at Hooligans Live on March 31 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of their hit 2003 album Year of the Spider. In true Cold fashion, the show was as unique as they come – not only was their own individual set unlike anything else I’ve seen, but their support lineup was just as noteworthy.

The first band on the bill was Antigone, a local alternative metalcore group from the Raleigh area. Their short-lived set was the adrenaline rush that the audience was looking for to get the night started. The band’s sonic mix of metalcore, post-grunge, and alternative hard rock was quickly able to get the crowd on their feet, winning over some new fans in the process. 

Following Antigone was Sygnal to Noise, the first band on the touring lineup. Musically, they were a stark contrast to the previous band, but entertaining nonetheless. With this band, there seemed to be a more emphasized focus on melody, making for a more musically diverse set, from fast-paced rockers to mid/slow-tempo jam sessions. While modern in aesthetic, they had more of a “throwback” sound, taking inspiration from the psychedelic classic rock of the 70s as well and the gritty grunge of the 90s. Taking the sound of Cold into consideration, it was nice to have a band like this on the bill because they came off as a sonic midpoint between the local support and Cold.

Aside from the headliner, the band that made the biggest impact of the night was Awake for Days, an Italian alternative metal outfit from the island of Sardinia.  Not only did they have the strongest stage presence out of every band that performed that night, but they had musical integrity that was just as powerful. The band had the crowd in the palm of their hands with their eclectic combination of metalcore, hard rock, post-hardcore, and nu-metal that commanded the participation of the audience as much as it captured their interest and enthusiasm. Their cover of Linkin Park’s ‘One Step Closer’ fit right in with their originals like ‘Salvation Day’ and ‘Falling Down,’ and to say that they left a lasting impression would be an understatement.

Direct support for Cold came from Minnesota’s Divide the Fall, an alternative hard rock quartet with equal amounts of crunchy riffs and smooth melodies. The group had a very modern sound, with Dayseeker and Rain City Drive being the first two contemporary acts to come to mind as possible influences on this young band. While they weren’t as in-your-face as the previous band was as far as stage presence goes, they didn’t have to be – their music was varied and catchy enough to get stuck in anyone’s head, from the hard-hitting opener of their self-titled EP, ‘Our Existence,’ to the atmospheric and vibey tracks ‘Darker Side’ and ‘Fake Love.’ With this being their first show in North Carolina, one can hope that it was a memorable one and the first of many.

As Cold stepped onto the stage, vocalist Scooter Ward took a moment to explain his appreciation for the importance of the Year of the Spider album to Cold fans all over the world in a brief yet heartfelt introduction before the band ripped into the album’s opener, ‘Remedy.’ Ward paused the show at a few points to introduce certain songs, but it was largely an album playthrough with a bit of a twist – instead of simply playing through the album in sequential order, the band took some creative liberties and switched a few songs around here and there (which, ironically enough, turned out to be almost identical to the order I normally listen to the album in), almost making it feel like the audience was hearing the album for the first time again. Two songs (‘Cure My Tragedy’ and ‘Black Sunday’) were also played in a more stripped down fashion, the way they were arranged when they were first written.

As far as sound goes, Cold sounded incredible. Not only have Ward’s vocals not waned at all in the 20 years since Year of the Spider’s release, but the musicians didn’t miss a beat either – bassist Lindsay Manfredi, drummer Tony Kruszka, and guitarists Ed Cuozzo and Angelo Maruzzelli weren’t even in the band when the album was written and recorded, but they all comfortably played through it with ease and style. Aesthetically, Cold had one of the most unique designs I’ve ever seen a live band employ. There were no spotlights on the band at all, and the only lighting came from behind them, being either floodlights from the back to provide some sort of silhouette for the band or configurations of profile/follow spots or par cans that create the usual concert light-show. There’s something very poetic about this lighting setup, especially considering the close and intimate relationship that Cold has with their fanbase.

To sum things up, Cold brought more than a nostalgia show – they brought a celebration of a certain era in their career while also proudly displaying a support lineup that embraces the ever-changing sound of the genre they call home. If you’re a rock music fan of any sort and this tour is coming to your city, don’t hesitate to buy tickets – you won’t be disappointed.

For remaining tour dates and to buy tickets, click here.

Support the bands by checking out the following links:

Antigone: http://antigonenc.com

Sygnal to Noise: https://www.sygnaltonoise.com

Awake for Days: https://www.awakefordaysofficial.com

Divide the Fall: https://dividethefall.com

Cold: https://coldarmy.com

Massive thanks to Devin Lyons from Loud Street Media for the AMAZING photos! To see more of Devin’s awesome work, click here.

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