La Dispute – The Crofoot – 4.15.19

La Dispute, Gouge Away, Slow Mass
The Crofoot Ballroom – Pontiac, MI – 4.15.19
Photographer: Kailey Howell

Grand Rapids natives La Dispute hit their second Michigan stop of their tour in Pontiac, packing the venue tight as can be.

The band released Panorama this year, four years after their former release of Rooms of the House in 2015.

La Dispute sets the stage not just with their sound, but the environment surrounding them. The dim, warm lights with the projections along the screen behind them set a moody, personal tone with the crowd.

The band opened with the duet songs, “Fulton Street I and II” in honor of the new album. Vocalist Jordan Dreyer’s emotionally driven vocals pierced the room, and everyone listened. Other than the screaming of words back at Dreyer, there was little to no talking in between songs. The intenseness of the room paired well with the hard hitting music.

The band included a lot of songs off of Wildlife (2011). The throwback paired well with a crowd filled with long time fans. Songs like “Harder Harmonies” and “a Broken Jar” begged for audience participation. Other songs off of Somewhere at the Bottom of the River Between Vega and Altair included “New Storms for Older Lovers” and “Sad Prayers for Guilty Bodies.”

After a politically driven, heartfelt speech from Dreyer, the band kicked into “a Letter” followed by a closing of “You and I in Unison.”

The band was accompanied by Gouge Away, a hardcore band based out of Florida. Vocalist Christina Michelle is a powerhouse on stage. She never stops moving, demanding attention from the crowd.

The band opened their set with their 2017 single, “Swallow” and followed with tracks like “Fed Up” and “Ghost” off of their 2018 album Burnt Sugar. 

Opening on tour was Slow Mass, an ambient band out of Chicago. The band recently released two new singles, “Siren” and “Reservations” that can be streamed here.

La Dispute can be followed on Facebook for updates. Resurget’s review of Panorama can be read here.

La Dispute

Gouge Away

Slow Mass