The Word Alive
Vans Warped Tour
Mansfield, MA
July 13, 2016

The Word Alive is another band that I had never heard of, but I was in the right place at the right time.  When the band came out, one guy had on a Chicago Bulls jersey and hospital mask.  Another looked like a laid back surfer with Hawaiian bucket hat, and then there was the average rock n’ roll guitarist with a Motorhead shirt and scruffy beard.  Obviously my first thought was, I need to google this band. Now.

I spent a few minutes after the show looking them up on the internet.  The Word Alive is a Metal-core band from Phoenix, Az.  The band was formed in 2008 and has been signed to Fearless Records since 2009. The band has released 4 studio albums and 2 EP’s since that time. The masked basketball player was Zack Hansen, the bucket hat was Daniel Shapiro and that average Joe, is Tony Pizzuti.  Rounding out the rest of the band is Luke Holland and the lead singer is Tyler “Telle” Smith.

Although the last two didn’t have anything on that really stood out to me, they all stood out as a band.  Tyler was a really great showman, smiling from ear to ear when he wasn’t screaming.  His megawatt white smile was comforting while the veins in his neck bulged out as he put all the force into pushing out his lyrics.

Like most of the Warped Tour sets this was another short one.  6 songs later they were done.  I must say I really enjoyed “Sellout.”  It may not be the most uplifting song with lyrics “Will you remember me? Everything’s empty, and I lost the fight”, but the guitar riff and drums were great.  We all have empty days, but this song didn’t make me feel empty.  I loved it from start to finish.

I may not have known the band before they started, but by the end of the set, and the end of my googling, they had gained a new fan.

My only disappointment was I still haven’t figure out Zack Hansen’s mask.  Is it just part of his look? Did he have a cold? Unsightly pimple on his nose? We may never know. Unless you do know? In that case, please leave a comment below!

Setlist

Made This Way
Sellout
2012
Entirety
Life Cycles
Trapped