It's Gonna Be May at Centennial Hall
A packed slate of shows rings in Erie's newest venue
BEGINNING MONDAY, MAY 11
It's been one month since the newly renovated Centennial Hall ferociously opened with a sold-out Menzingers show. In the wake of such a massive event there is no slowing down for the new venue. Acts such as The Messthetics & James Brandon Lewis (featuring the rhythm section from D.C. punk band Fugazi) and Kofi Baker's Psychedelic Trip (led by the son of legendary drummer Ginger Baker) have played the venue since its grand reopening. As the month of May is known as a transition from the dreary days of winter into the warm days of summer, the following schedule of events at Centennial Hall will get you ready for the upcoming concert season.
On Monday, May 11, the London Christian metalcore band Confessions of a Traitor are bringing The Sacred and Severed Tour to town. The tour features Syracuse, New York's Fight From Within and Midwest hardcore band ExitWounds. Starting the show off will be Tear from Grace from Meadville.
Solid State records band Wolves At The Gate will bring their Christian message to town on Wednesday, May 13 with fellow like-minded artists Bloodlines and Heal The Hurt. Local metal favorite Storms Within will be opening the show.
Buffalo's post-hardcore band The Bunny The Bear, who are known for wearing animal masks and mixing together synth-pop, alternative rock, and metal, will be at the Hall on Thursday, May 21. Also on the bill is Cleveland electronic metalcore band Unhealthy While Unhinged, Minneapolis's Divide The Fall, and East Central Indiana's Mantra Of Morta.
Saturday, May 23 is the annual Noob Night that's hosted by Oddity Productions. This evening allows up-and-coming bands to perform in a rapid-style showcase for fans, promoters, venue owners, and media outlets. The bands set to perform this year are P!nk Paradox, Phantom Clawz, Borland '71, Matt, Lee & The Tims, Survivors Guilt, Dimensions, Nu Sance, Dead End Dystopia, and Keke Diamond Band. This event is dedicated to the loving memory of Alex Harilla of Gimp Guy Underground, who supported local music throughout his life. This is a free event, with donations being accepted.
Boston-based hardcore-punk band Final Gasp and Blood Vulture are teaming up for a night of Gothic metal on Sunday, May 24. Blood Vulture is fronted by Jordan Olds, who is also known as Gwarsenio Hall, the host of the YouTube series Two Minutes To Late Night, which gained popularity during the pandemic. Opening the night will be Erie's own doom-masters Fog Giant.
On Wednesday, May 27, Blacklight Media band Gozu, who are known in the stoner metal community and Black Sabbath-inspired doom band Restless Spirit are making a mid-week stop at the Hall. Gozu has shared the stage with the likes of Baroness, The Obsessed, and Saint Vitus, amongst many others.
Post-black metal band Sadness will bring their unique subgenre of blackgaze to the Hall, counterbalanced by Chicago happy math rock band Snooze on Friday, May 29. Joining them will be death metal band Pains from Illinois, along with Amplifiers and Mound of Orchids from southwestern Pennsylvania.
All these events are open to all ages and hosted at Centennial Hall (145 W. 11th St.), unless otherwise noted. For show times, prices, tickets, info and more, visit tickets.eriereader.com.
Idlestar Promotions is offering a May Mosh Pass for $70, which includes admission to all of these shows for one price. For more info: tickets.eriereader.com
