“LAST NIGHT OF THE TOUR AND YOU SOLD US OUT, OMAHA!”
Cory Castro, lead singer of Free Throw yelled this sentiment to the crowd once the band took the stage.
Hardcore emo and punk rock fans crowded into The Reverb Lounge last night for a smashing end to Free Throw’s tour. In such an intimate space, there was an incomparable energy.
Five high school best friends from Nashville formed Free Throw in 2012. Their influences include Snowing, Algernon Cadwallader, Fall Out Boy, and My Chemical Romance.
Bug Heaven, an Omaha native group, set the vibe for the night. While usually a full band, for the night Bug Heaven was a one-man show featuring guitarist and singer, Drew Shuck. Even by himself, Shuck still managed to solidify that the evening would form a community and have a beautiful relationship from performers to crowd.
After a few moments, Free Throw’s tour support, Slow Joy, took to the stage.
Frontman, Esteban Flores, reflected on their latest release, “Mi Amigo Slow Joy,” stating: “If you have listened to it already you are my amigo… if you haven’t yet ,you should so we can be amigos.” The band’s take on performing felt like an exchange between friends.
While the crowd got moving and moshing to his hardcore songs, he also brought the crowd down in energy for some more emotional pieces that everyone nodded along to. Throughout Slow Joy’s performance, Flores conveyed his gratitude to the crowd.
Once Free Throw came out to perform, the crowd was ready for more action. The band played songs off of their 2023 album, “Lessons That We Swear to Keep,” along with several hits and fan favorites. Two fans even decided to crowd surf through the venue supported by an enthusiastic audience.
This reviewer, who did not enter the lounge a defined fan of emo punk moshing music, left after having an incredible time and with a newfound appreciation for the community the hardcore rock scene brings. For anyone wanting to find a place to let loose, burn some energy, scream their head off, and find a community for a night, a punk concert such as Free Throw with Slow Joy and Bug Heaven is just the place.
