▣SOMA | San Diego, CA ▣Saturday, October 27th 2024
▣Photographer/Journalist: Jason Jackson

Some bands just know how to bring you back. With their iconic 2004 album “They’re Only Chasing Safety”, Underoath didn’t just revisit a record. They threw us headlong into a full-blown, time-warped experience. Celebrating two decades of the album that practically defined a generation’s introduction to post-hardcore. Underoath hit San Diego’s SOMA like a freight train. They pulled no punches in a packed-out night. It was everything fans had been aching for. This wasn’t just a concert. It was a sonic catharsis.

Right as doors opened at SOMA, the energy was unmistakable. Fans clad in old band tees and buzzing with the anticipation that only a 20-year wait build. They’re Only Chasing Safety isn’t just a landmark album in Underoath’s career. It’s a torchbearer for an entire genre and for a particular phase of angsty, emotive youth. Seeing it live wasn’t just about hearing the songs—it was about reliving a specific moment in time. Surrounded by a community who understood that feeling just as deeply.

Underoath made no missteps in curating a set that would be the envy of any fan. They kicked things off with a stripped-down version of “Some Will Seek Forgiveness, Others Escape.” Building into the albums intro track “Young and Aspiring,” a gut-punch of a song that tore through SOMA’s walls. As they moved through the tracks—“A Boy Brushed Red… Living in Black .and White,” “The Impact of Reason,” and “Reinventing Your Exit” You felt the crowd hanging onto every note. Each song felt like a deliberate nod to the raw vulnerability that made They’re Only Chasing Safety so unforgettable.

As the last note faded, the crowd made it clear that a single set wasn’t going to be enough. Chants of “One more song!” filled the venue, and the band obliged, returning for a thundering encore. They rounded off the night with tracks from their later albums. Proving to fans old and new that Underoath isn’t just a nostalgic act—they’re a band with staying power.

This anniversary tour is more than just a trip down memory lane. It’s a celebration of a moment in music history that hasn’t dulled in the slightest over two decades. And judging by the response from San Diego fans. They’re Only Chasing Safety remains just as relevant, resonant, and riotously powerful as it did in 2004. For everyone there, it was a night that underscored the impact that Underoath has had on post-hardcore. A reminder that some sounds, some feelings, never fade.

Check out our contributor photographer, Jason Jackson photos now!

UNDEROATH

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