aaron gillespie live review photos

Aaron Gillespie Live Review & Concert Photos w/ William Beckett | Backbooth, Orlando | July 15, 2015

by • August 3, 2015

Fourteen-year-old Adam didn’t care too much for Aaron Gillespie. Not necessarily Aaron personally, but the music of his band at the time: Underoath. At the time, I was entering my freshman year of high school and my older brother, Justin, was a junior. Our parents made Justin drive me to school each morning. I guess rolling up to high school with your scrawny little freshman brother wasn’t too cool, because he didn’t seem particularly thrilled to be my chauffeur. We often didn’t get along at that time in our lives and we pushed each other’s buttons constantly. One of the ways he pushed mine was by making my ride to school less than enjoyable. I had yet to reach my angsty teen years, and he was right in the middle of them. So he blared Underoath’s album, They’re Only Chasing Safety, at full blast every morning at 6:30 a.m. on the way to school. I absolutely hated it. I was never fully awake by then, loud noises give me anxiety, and “WHAT THE HELL ARE THEY EVEN SAYING?!” may have crossed my lips on more than one occasion.

But at some point it finally clicked for me. Maybe, much like whiskey, heavy music is an acquired taste. I finally understood Underoath. I grew to love them, especially Mr. Gillespie. And although the disbanding of Underoath was unfortunate, he’s gone on to create even more captivating music on his own. One could argue that he’s become better with age, much like whiskey. I like whiskey.

Fast-forward eight years (Wednesday July 15, 2015 to be exact): Twenty-three-year-old Adam loves Aaron Gillespie. How could you not? He’s a drummer, backup vocalist, guitarist, lead singer, and singer-songwriter. Put a cape on this dude and he could probably fly too.

aaron gillespie live review

I walk into Backbooth on said Wednesday night, with my heart in my throat, as the first person I see is Aaron. He is behind his own merch booth, posing as a regular human being. The ginger-headed drum lord is mingling with us mere peasants as he shakes hands, gives hugs, and even sells his own t-shirts. It’s as if he is one of us.

A little bit confused and star-struck, I head to the back of the room and find a good spot, PBR in hand. William Beckett of The Academy Is… takes the stage. He starts his set with a hopeful tune, followed by an explanation that the rest of his set is all sad songs. It was not a lie. However, between songs he tells stories and jokes to lighten the mood that has everyone in the room hanging on his every word. In the middle of a song that requires a heavy strumming pattern, his string breaks. A comment from the crowd suggests that he should keep playing but he stops and assures us that

nah dude, it’s my D, I need that.”

Before anyone can decide if the comment was an innuendo or not, Beckett peeks his head around the corner to the merch area of the venue to ask Aaron which guitar he can borrow that has the correct tuning. He quickly straps on a new ax and picks up the song right where he left off. He finishes his set with the new guitar as if he had been playing it his whole life.

Not to pick on Mr. Beckett, he delivered a great set. But as he tripped over my foot (we both were caught off-guard and apologized) on his way to man his merch booth, I am reminded that everyone in this room is human. Not only that but we are all in the same room for the same reason: to enjoy music together.

With this new mindset, I am now at peace as Aaron takes the stage and begins with a mash-up of one of his songs mixed with U2’s “Where the Streets Have No Name.” He then welcomes everyone and thanks us for attending before jumping into a couple Underoath songs that has everyone in the room belting out the lyrics.

Aaron periodically checks in with the crowded room with “Are you enjoying yourselves? Are you happy? Good.” The two questions are answered with whistles and applause, and the “good” is merely an understatement of the mood that emanates throughout the room.

I firmly believe that Gillespie has three volume settings: Off, On, and Loud. Most of the time he is loud, the way we like it. He does a fantastic job utilizing dynamics throughout his set, quieting down to a light strum or singing lines a cappella before picking things back up and slamming his six strings as he belts out the chorus. He often uses a kick drum as a crutch that drives the beat along, without looking back.

In the middle of “Say This Sooner,” Aaron stops the song as the club that lies adjacent to Backbooth distracts him. He claims: “The club is bumpin,’ holy balls. Drake must be over there.” He burps, and continues singing the chorus at the top of his lungs, clearly using his “LOUD” setting.

Weather he is attacking the drums with Underoath, leading The Almost, touring with Paramore, or strumming an acoustic guitar alone on a stage in front of a group of like-minded souls in a small Orlando club, Gillespie pours his heart into every note.

Aaron Gillespie Live Review w/ William Beckett by Adam Fricke.
Aaron Gillespie Live Concert Photos w/ William Beckett  by Justin Fricke.

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