At Union Transfer in Philadelphia, PA on December 1st, 2023
Veteran metal band Baroness closed out its 34-city Sweet Oblivion tour December 1 at Union Transfer in Philadelphia. Baroness takes the stage to a raucous reception by fans warmed up by three openers. The venue’s multiple tiers have been steadily filling up all evening ahead of Baroness’s appearance and is now overflowing with excited metalheads.
Written by Jonathan Lane
Savannah-based Baroness comprises John Baizley on vocals and guitar, Nick Jost on bass and keys, Sebastian Thomson on drums, and Gina Gleason on lead Guitar and backup vocals. Baizley is the lone member still with the band since its formation in 2003. Gleason, with the band since 2017, is the last addition to this kickass roster.
The set affords a generous sampling of music from all the band’s albums since 2007 – Baroness comes out swinging with a track from 2023 album “Stone”: Last Word opens with a heavy, insistent beat and ends with a gorgeous duet by John and Gina.
Farther from oblivion
And closer to the end
Will I become the setting sun?
Will I fall when I wake up?
Baroness keeps bodies moving with an eclectic mix of Rock and Metal styles, often harking back to the band’s punk/post-punk musical roots. Song lyrics are dark with the occasional glimpse of light…alternatingly full of doom and gloom and glimmers of hope.
Some tunes that caught this new fan’s attention include:
- A Horse Called Golgotha – A dark, prog-metal tune featuring a sumptuous guitar solo.
- Beneath the Rose with maudlin metal lyrics and a sound that interlaces metal and punk
I wanna lie to you and tell you this is over
I wanna say this is for the best
But when you’re hanging from the rafters in my attic
You know I’ll never let you down
This is not, the hill, that we die on
- Power ballad Chlorine & Wine
In spite of the winter
There’s ways to keep warm
Whatever you give me
Please know that I’ll ask you for more
- The music in Kerosene reveals the prog-rock side of the band under more “doomy and gloomy” words:
You’ll take your time
I’ll take mine
And I’ll wait so
Patiently
Drown my love in kerosene
And in the final hour
Absence told my heart to wander away
- Take My Bones Away pummels the house – it rocks relentlessly with an assist from the crowd on the chorus.
Take my bones away
I’ll find ’em every day!
Full gallery of Baroness performance below. Photography all rights reserved by Jonathan Lane.
https://www.photographer-jonathan-lane.com/hom
Baroness Social Links
Baroness has found a way to “stay metal” while painting a soundscape that should appeal to fans of a wide range of rock/metal fans – especially those with an appreciation for creative musicianship. Gina, John, Sebastian, and Nick have the musical chops to satisfy this wider audience, and deliver this all with great stage presence and audience engagement.
Catch the music of Baroness online and go see this gem of a band on the next tour.
Check out Stone, Baroness’s 2023 Album:
Baroness has two gigs on the calendar so far for 2024:
MAY 11, 2024 – WELCOME TO ROCKVILLE – DAYTONA BEACH, FL
MAY 19, 2024 – SONIC TEMPLE ART & MUSIC FESTIVAL – COLUMBUS, OH
Set List
Baroness
Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA – December 1, 2023.
1 Last Word
2 The Sweetest Curse
3 A Horse Called Golgotha
4 March to the Sea
5 Beneath the Rose
6 Under the Wheel
7 Anodyne
8 Chlorine & Wine
9 Tourniquet
10 Kerosene
11 If I Have to Wake Up (Would You Stop the Rain?)/Fugue
12 Shock Me
13 The Gnashing
14 Isak
15 Take My Bones Away
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