In September of 2023, Baroness released their sixth studio album Stone (Abraxan Hymns, review here) and with the summer concert season heating up, they are touring to support it. That tour recently came to the Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center (HMAC) in Harrisburg, PA.
Located in an up-and-coming neighborhood of Harrisburg, HMAC is within easy walking distance of multiple food options and street parking is available with a little effort. Entry is made through what looks to be a front porch into a living room. Behind that is a large bar room with tables and chairs. Pizza and sandwiches are available from the bar and in the far corner is the entrance to the smaller of two performance spaces. This night’s show was upstairs in the much larger space which also contains bars and a merch sales space.
Baroness brought a few friends with them to warm up the crowd and to start the evening Lybica (pronounced Lie-BEE-ca) took the stage.
Formed in 2020, Lybica is the musical equivalent of a COVID baby. Several musicians could not tour or play live anywhere so they got together and charted their own path. There is an old joke that a drummer with a song idea isn’t long for that band and Justin Foley’s previous life was as the drummer for Killswitch Engage. He is now doing guitar player duties alongside Doug French and on bass, another former drummer Joey Johnson. Drummers aren’t generally known as singers and these guys stay true to form as a strictly instrumental band. To rely this heavily on guitars you had better be very good and no question they are. This becomes a showcase for Foley who leads the way through an intense set. Prog Rock, Hair Metal, and Punk are all part of the performance that ends all too quickly and gives way to the next friend.
Red Fang comes from Portland, Oregon, and has been around since 2005. This evening, the energy of the Pacific Northwest coffee culture was evident in their show. These guys hit the ground running and maintained that energy throughout. The four-piece was a bit cramped on the small stage and the drummer was set to the side giving everyone a pretty good view of him as he drove the beat. Melodic, well-sung lyrics fought for position with low notes from the bass as the guitar screamed its presence to the house. There is a bit of a classic metal to their sound and if you take the country twang away from Molly Hatchet, you get a good approximation of Red Fang. The audience bobbing their heads in unison in time to the music signaled a good set, but it had to end to make way for Baroness.
The lights dim and New-Age ethereal music starts to play. The only person on stage is the drummer Sebastian Thomson working to hype up the crowd as the rest of his bandmates join in. On lead guitar is Philadelphia native Gina Gleason who ferociously attacks her instrument and leaves one wondering how the guitar survived the onslaught. Nick Jost on bass sets a tempo while founding member John Baizley plays rhythm guitar and vocals. The second song “Under The Wheel” slows things down a bit but does not lose anything in the way of intensity. At times the two guitarists harmonize with their instruments and at times they play almost opposing each other. Each new song elicits cheers from the crowd who often sing along. Melodic guitars and melodic singing combine for a Progressive Metal / Hard Rock sound and a great show. This was the last night of the tour with Lybica and Red Fang so it turned into a bit of a celebration and no question everyone on stage was enjoying themselves immensely.
Not to worry though. Baroness will continue touring the United States through July and then move on to an extensive European tour. Finding a chance to see them live will be rewarded.
Baroness set list:
Last Word
Under the Wheel
A Horse Called Golgotha
March to the Sea
Green Theme
Beneath the Rose
If I Have to Wake Up (Would You Stop the Rain?) / Fugue
War, Wisdom and Rhyme
Shock Me
Seasons
The Sweetest Curse
Encore:
Take My Bones Away
Isak
Buy Baroness music and merch here:
https://amzn.to/459LFY8
WRITTEN BY MATTHEW KOCHEK
PHOTOS BY KIM HANSEN
Follow Kim’s work here:
https://www.instagram.com/pharmadiver/