The entire room was filled with so many people I couldn’t see. I’m short, so this is not unusual at shows, though the crowd Autumn Mourning brought to Wall Street was quite impressive.
So much energy flows out of the band members through their instruments it’s impossible to not be excited at an Autumn Mourning show. And it’s always nice to see a hot chick like Cristy Kirby rocking out on guitar.
Opening with “Accession of Evil” was good but “New Song” and “Metal Warriors” were my favorites. Everyone has favorites when it’s the last show of a band that has been together since 2001?a notable achievement in itself.
Lots of memories were made in six years with changing band members and much growth, and among year-long drummer Fahad Addad’s favorites are the AM Return show, the new adrenaline of drumming running through him, the August show in Nashville at The Muse with Relapse Records band Nile in ridiculous heat (which makes people go loopy after a while!) and, of course, their last show at Wall Street.
People were so fired up with fists in the air and powerful forces abundant as the conclusion of the final show drew closer. People knew it was finally time for The Mourning to come to an end when vocalist Hardy thanked other band members: fellow founding member and lead guitarist Aaron Swisher, bassist Jason Dietz, drummer Addad and guitarist Kirby, along with the rest of the AM family. Casey Stickney, Todd Harris, Will Moon, Chris Trujillo, Shawn, all the brothers in the Firing Order (R.I.P.), Adam Urteaga, Gary, Jamie, and Chris V and Robbie also get shout-outs from the band. Even Muffins too.
“I hold the utmost respect for every band member who has ever been a part of Autumn Mourning and who has helped us to stay a band for so many years,” Swisher said. “Without all of you, mine and Hardy’s dream and determination would have been long gone before now.”
Craig Murphy, himself a key part of the local music scene, called the disbanding of Autumn Mourning “a sad day indeed” and said he had been a fan of the band for years.
“What struck a chord with me was the live show,” Murphy said. “Aaron and Hardy rock out together in a way that can’t be matched in this town.”
The other bands playing the Wall Street show included Taxi Driver (What!? The Pulse editor in chief has a life other than the paper?), S.O.M.A. and touring band Look What I Did. I overheard a group of guys discussing the amazingness and fluidity of the show in between LWID and AM sets. This show was a definite success and the perfect release of many years of hard work.
The reason for AM’s departure of ways? The band members wanted to work on solo projects and/or projects with different bands. They want to broaden their horizons, which is inevitable when you’re dealing with six years of growth.
“Autumn Mourning has been through many hills and valleys in the past six years and we feel [as a band] that we are going out on top of a hill instead of down in a valley,” Swisher said, adding he will pursue his classical guitar studies at MTSU in addition to being involved in other local rock projects.
Look for AM band members speckled throughout the local music scene and leaving their marks in the years to come. AM shared many good times and overall, rocked Murfreesboro’s face off because they just wanted everyone to “tip up an ice cold PBR one last time for now,” coaxed Hardy, “Because metal is forever!”
