On the heels of their critically-acclaimed album, Where Do We Go From Here?, Asking Alexandria hit the road with Memphis May Fire, The Word Alive and Nerv for their 27-stop, “All My Friends” North American tour. The U.K.-based band has been a staple of hard rock stations around the globe since 2008 and, with eight studio albums worth of material to choose from, has no shortage of options to play over the course of a 90-minute set.
When Asking Alexandria, which is comprised of singer Danny Worsnop, guitarist Cameron Liddell, bassist Sam Bettley and drummer James Cassells, performed at The Fillmore in Silver Spring, the setlist was an ideal blend of their biggest hits and newer material, with an acoustic gem or two sprinkled in for good measure.
The night kicked off with “Closure,” a heavy track that immediately set the tone for what was to come. The explosive energy of the song was palpable, and Worsnop’s powerful vocals drew the audience in from the start. “Alone Again,” from their 2021 album, See What’s On The Inside, continued to build on that momentum and before the sold-out crowd could even think about catching their breath, they were hit with a trio of hard-hitting tracks: “Bad Blood,” “Down to Hell,” and “Into the Fire.”
While each upbeat, fast-paced track built upon the last, “Into the Fire,” in particular, stood out with its anthemic chorus and searing guitar riffs, eliciting a fervent response from the crowd. After blasting through one of their newest hits, “Dark Void,” the band finally showed a hint of mercy and dove into a surprising acoustic segment. Armed with an acoustic guitar and a world-class voice, Worsnop performed an acoustic cover of the Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way.” This, of course, delighted the audience, who happily sang along at full volume. The acoustic rendition of “Someone, Somewhere” brought a sense of intimacy to the large venue, followed by “Moving On,” which started with a delicate acoustic intro before transitioning into its full-band version.
The energy in the room ramped back up with “The Violence,” a blistering track that tackles themes of societal turmoil and personal struggle. As the concert neared its end, Asking Alexandria played “A Prophecy,” a song that has become a staple in their live shows. After a brief pause, the band returned for an encore, playing “Alone in a Room.” The fan favorite was a perfect choice to end the night thanks to its introspective lyrics and powerful delivery, which provided a sense of closure, bringing the concert full circle, and ensured everyone headed home happy.
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Setlist
Closure
Alone Again
Bad Blood
Down to Hell
Into the Fire
Where Did It Go?
Dark Void
I Want It That Way (Acoustic Backstreet Boys cover)
Someone, Somewhere (Acoustic)
Moving On (Acoustic intro)
The Violence
Let Go
To the Stage
A Prophecy
The Final Episode (Let’s Change the Channel)
Encore
Alone in a Room
Words & Photos by: Brian Murphy