Local legends Every Time I Die have officially called it a night after 24 years. The influential Buffalonian metalcore band announced the tragic news earlier tonight, as everyone minus vocalist Keith Buckley have issued a statement about their departures.
In the statement guitarists Jordan Buckley, Andy Williams, bassist Stephen Micciche, and drummer Clayton “Goose” Holyoak wrote:
“Andy, Jordan, Steve and Goose’s last show with Every Time I Die was on Dec 11, 2021. While we hoped to come to an agreed upon legal statement that outlined the truth, we were informed today of something planned to be released not mutually agreed upon that consists of inaccuracies and controls a narrative to benefit one. There has been no direct communication with Keith, because it’s either impossible for direct communication with him solely or we’ve been cut off to any and all communication by him himself. Every Time I Die was these 5 members, and we were never budging or accepting any changes. Simply, there is zero truth about the band continuing on with a new singer. Lastly, we wouldn’t be where we are today without every single person that’s backed the band in any & all ways. While we’re extremely disappointed in how this was played out online in front of you, your support and the memories we have because of you all will always be cherished. See you soon. Forever grateful, Andy, Jordan, Steve & Goose”
Local news station WIVB wrote that around 8:40 Monday evening that Keith posted the legal notice that his former bandmates have sent to him. The notice written by Savur Law PC reads that Keith is “…to immediately cease and desist from making any statements, wether which or directly or indirectly (including on social media or otherwise), that defame, disparage or in any way criticize the professional name, prestige, image, reputation, practices or conduct of the Band or the Represented Members. In addition, immediately cease and desist al usage of the Band name, logo, or other intellectual property until there is a formal signed separation agreement between the parties which authorizes you to do so.”
The break up comes days after EITD cancelled their UK tour with The Bronx, Jesus Piece, and Sanction. Underoath, who were scheduled to do a tour with ETID and Spiritbox later this year, have already announced that they are looking for a replacement for the band. “We’ve grown up with ETID,” the band wrote on their social medias. “We’ve traveled the world with them. As much as we love the music they created, the men are are just some of our favorites, period. As a band we’ve always admired (and blared) them. They’re leaving a hole in music that simply won’t be filled.” An announcement about the replacement should be made available soon. Their last show was day two of their annual ‘Tid The Season shows at Buffalo RiverWorks, which featured The Dirty Nil, Knocked Loose, and Ice-T. Read our review of the show here.
ETID formed in 1998 and have traveled the globe wearing Buffalo on their sleeves. The band have dropped nine albums, their latest being 2021’s Radical, released through Epitaph Records (Converge, The Linda Lindas, Soul Glo). Throughout their 24-year career, they’ve toured with Taking Back Sunday, Defeater, letlive., The Used, Fall Out Boy, August Burns Red, Candy, The Ghost Inside, Bring Me The Horizon, Motionless In White, ’68, Coheed And Cambria, The Bled, Veil Of Maya, Atreyu, Norma Jean, The Chariot, Drug Church, Real Friends, and The Acacia Strain. ETID have played the Vans Warped Tour eight times, their first back in 2002 and performing on the final cross-country tour in 2018, where Jordan tried in vain to have ETID become the last act playing on the final show.
ETIDiots, welcome back to Buffalo. I hope you’ve recovered from that weekend’s activities.
December 10 and 11 brought organized chaos and magic back to RiverWorks as Every Time I Die’s annual Christmas show ‘Tid The Season returned after the pandemic killed last year’s festivities. 2020 had the Buffalo boys trying to raise $69 for their manager with a telethon, featuring appearances by Andrew Dice Clay and Andy Hull of Manchester Orchestra. But now that COVID-19 has graciously allowed ETID to continue their beloved Christmas shows, it was the right time to rock RiverWorks to its core.
Much like 2019’s shows, 2021 was a double-feature with two shows. Night one featured Kublai Khan, Mariachi El Bronx, and Buried Alive (who replaced Poison The Well who’re dealing with a touring member catching COVID) while night two had Spiritbox, The Dirty Nil, and Ice-T.
Atlanta noise punks ’68 started off ‘Tid The Season with some loud rock ‘n’ roll.
Kicking off day one was ’68, a kick-ass rock duo fronted by former Chariot frontman Josh Scogin. The duo performed the shortest set of the entire weekend, playing only four tracks. Yet with such a small setlist, they made the most out of their time. Scogin and drummer Nikko Yamada shredded through old hits (“Whether Terrified Or Unafraid” & “Track 8 O”) and newer tracks (“Bad Bite” & “The Lesser Of Two Upheavals”). Texan metalcore act Kublai Khan immediately followed and tore the floor to shreds. The band played a heavy set filled with mosh-worthy tracks like “Antpile”, “Us & Them”, and “Beneath A Crescent Moon”.
Up next was one of the most exciting bands of the evening: Mariachi El Bronx. Made up of hardcore punk band The Bronx (who played night two), Mariachi El Bronx brought a whole new level of fun to the show. You couldn’t be in a bad mood when mariachi music is playing to a crowd of drunk people from around the world (shoutout to the ETIDiots from Ireland). The band went through a setlist of fun, dancing songs like “48 Roses”, “My Brother The Gun”, “Holy”, “Norteño Lights”, and the closing number “Revolution Girls”.
Old school Buffalo hardcore act Buried Alive saved the day on Friday by replacing Poison The Well who had to pull out last minute.
Originally, Floridian post-hardcore legends Poison The Well were supposed to take the stage next, but unfortunately, COVID had other plans. It was unknown for a while who would be replacing PTW, but on the day of the show, it was revealed that Buried Alive, a 90s hardcore band hailing from the Queen City, fronted by Scott Vogel who you might know as the vocalist for Terror. BA reformed in 2020 and released an EP with Bridge 9 Records (Beach Slang, H2O, War On Women). As they took to the stage, BA began to tear RiverWorks up. The energy was intense, and for a band that hasn’t been active for over 20 years, they sounded as strong as they did back then.
Circa Survive played a set consisting of classic hits.
Another legendary band took to the stage next: Philly post-hardcore act Circa Survive. Their rocking setlist consisted of 10 songs, playing tracks from all of their albums except Violent Waves. Anthony Green’s vocals still sound as superb as he does on their albums, and his stage presence is astounding. Being able to hear classics like “The Difference Between Medicine And Poison Is In The Dose”, “Get Out”, and “Stop The Fuckin’ Car” live was an incredible feeling.
Every Time I Die gracing the stage on Friday night.
Organized chaos immediately hit the floor once the bone-crunching opening to Every Time I Die’s latest album Radical, “Dark Distance”. Prior to the show, fans were worried for frontman Keith Buckley when he announced he was taking a hiatus from the band on tour, but promised he would make a return for ‘Tid The Season this year. And during both nights, his performances were stellar. The band ripped through several classics on night one (“Emergency Broadcast Syndrome”, “Floater”, “Leatherneck”), modern hits (“Underwater Bimbos From Outer Space”, “Map Change”, “Thirst”), and more tracks from Radical (“White Void”, “Planet Shit”, and a special performance of “All This And War” featuring Josh Scogin from ’68).
Day two began with metalcore supergroup END taking the stage. Made up of members from Counterparts, Fit For An Autopsy, Reign Supreme, Trade Wind, and Shai Hulud, the band played seven songs that would easily wake up anyone who was still trying to recover from last night’s powerful performances. Canadian rock trio The Dirty Nil may have felt out of place at the festival, but they sure knew how to throw it the fuck down. They paid tribute to Power Trip’s late frontman Riley Gale with a shredding cover of “Executioner’s Tax (Swing Of The Axe)”
Another powerful Canadian trio was next: Spiritbox. The former Prenatt’s Picks act have been blowing up since their appearance last year, touring with Limp Bizkit and dropping their debut Eternal Blue this September. Their stage presence was phenomenal, and frontwoman Courtney LaPlante has a stage presence like no other, and her screams are godly. Seven heavenly, heavy tracks were played, five coming off of Eternal Blue (“Sun Killer”, “Circle With Me”, “Holy Roller”).
The Bronx frontman Matt Caughthran (center) performs in the center of a circle pit during the band’s set on Saturday night.
The Bronx was next, and was my biggest surprise of the evening. Having never seen The Bronx live, I was in for one hell of a treat. The LA hardcore punks quickly made day two theirs by going all out. They even sent out gifts to those who crowdsurfed to the stage (shootout to whoever got the toaster). The Bronx ripped through a set containing nothing but total bangers (“Around The Horn”, “Breaking News”, “Knifeman”). If you have the chance to see The Bronx, please do so.
Knocked Loose go hard while bathed in blue.
Oldham County’s finest blessed ‘Tid The Season for a third time. When Knocked Loose took to the stage, mosh pits formed in every crevice on the floor. No place was safe except the balcony. Playing 14 songs, three appearing off their new EP A Tear In The Fabric Of Life, KL came to shred and to not fuck around. The three guest appearances (Keith Buckley came out to do his part on “Forget Your Name” while Courtney LaPlante filled in for Dying Wish’s Emma Boster’s part on “A Serpent’s Touch”. Plus the added touch of Brenden Murphy of END appeared on “Billy No Mates”) crushed their parts. Some of the best songs on the set include “God Knows”, “Deadringer”, “Oblivion’s Peak”, “All My Friends” and fan favorite “Counting Worms”.
The O.G. Original Gangster Ice-T raised the roof on Saturday.
Another massive highlight from Saturday was the appearance by old school gangster rapper/Law & Order: Special Victims Unit actor Ice-T. The 63-year-old OG was the second rapper to ever appear at ‘Tid The Season, with Wu-Tang’s Ghostface Killah showing up back in 2019. His set was filled with classics (“I’m Your Pusher”, “6 In The Mornin'”, “That’s How I’m Livin'”) and an awesome freestyle over Bobby Shmurda’s beloved hit “Hot Nigga”.
Crowdsurfing is for everyone, even those in wheelchairs like this lucky person during ETID’s set on Saturday.
ETID opened their final show of 2021 with “Roman Holiday”, the killer opening number to 2009’s New Junk Aesthetic. They played even more classics (“Pigs Is Pigs”, “Romeo A Go-Go”, “Off broadway”), modern hits (“Indian Giver”, “Decayin’ With The Boys”, “The Sweet Life” with a special appearance by The Bronx’s Matt Caughthran), and more off of Radical (“Sly”, “People Versus”, “A Colossal Wreck”). 27 songs were played in total, with the live debut of two songs from Radical, “People Versus” and “Desperate Pleasures”.
To simply sum up this incredible weekend: fan-fucking-tastic. As I wrote in my past review of the festival, “If you ever have the chance to go to ‘Tid The Season, seize the opportunity. Whether it’s one long day or two days, these Christmas shows will put you in a jolly mood while you’re throwing down with your fellow ETIDiots.” Not even COVID can slow these boys down. Hope to see you all next year. Let’s go Buffalo.
If you were going to Every Time I Die’s annual Tid The Season performance this Friday night to see Poison The Well, prepare to be disappointed.
The legendary Floridian metalcore act announced Thursday evening that they will be unable to perform at ETID’s first Christmas show since 2019 due to COVID-19. Poison The Well were doing a short run of shows leading up to the two-day concert at RiverWorks in downtown Buffalo, N.Y., when they got the news before their show in Philadelphia.
In a statement the band wrote:
Hey everyone,
Unfortunately we will be cancelling the remainder of our December run, including Tid The Season, due to a person in our touring party testing positive for COVID-19. Details about rescheduling dates and refunds will be available in the coming days. We appreciate everyone’s understanding and hope to be back soon.
Love, PTW
No word yet has been released on whether PTW will be replaced or if their slot will be used to give ETID more time on stage.
Tid The Season day one starts Friday at 4pm. Performing on day one are ’68, Kublai Khan, Mariachi El Bronx, Circa Survive, and of course ETID. Day two, happening Saturday, will feature wrestling matches earlier in the day, as well as performances by Spiritbox, END, The Dirty Nil, Knocked Loose, The Bronx, Ice-T, and ETID again.
PTW formed in 1997 and released five albums, one of them through Atlantic Records (100 gecs, In This Moment, Weezer). The band disbanded in 2010 but have done several reunion shows and tours since 2015. Their last album The Tropic Rot came out in 2009 via the now defunct label Ferret Records (36 Crazyfists, Heavy Heavy Low Low, Zao).
Local legends Every Time I Die are ready to rock this holiday season with the return of their beloved Tid The Season Christmas shows. After COVID-19 killed their holiday plans, replacing it with a “telethon” featuring Manchester Orchestra and pro wrestler MJF, ETID are ready to rock Buffalo’s RiverWorks this December. The shows will take place Friday, December 10, and Saturday, December 11.
Joining ETID on Friday are ’68 (who’re touring with ETID later this fall alongside Richmond, Va., hardcore troupe Candy), Kublai Kahn, Mariachi El Bronx, Poison The Well, and Circa Survive. Saturday’s lineup features END (supergroup featuring members of Counterparts, Shai Hulud, Fit For An Autopsy, Reign Supreme and Trade Wind), The Dirty Nil, Spiritbox, The Bronx, Knocked Loose, and Ice-T. Check out the show’s flyer below.
Tickets for the show are available now for both nights at etix.com. Night 2 is completely sold out, with only a few night 1 tickets remaining. Doors on Friday open at 4 pm while doors on Saturday open earlier at 1 pm due to wrestling.
Speaking of wrestling, with ETID guitarist Andy Williams being one-half of wrestling duo The Butcher and The Blade who’re in AEW, will we be seeing members from AEW in Buffalo? Only one can dream.
Previous acts who performed at ETID’s Christmas shows include The Get Up Kids, Snapcase, Eighteen Visions, Harm’s Way, and Ghostface Killah.
Punk Goes Prenatt 