It was quite a special evening to pay a visit to the Nile Theater on Wednesday night (October 23, 2024) – and only those in attendance got to experience it for themselves.
The staple Georgia hardcore band Norma Jean kicked off the second leg of their “1994 North America” tour here in Mesa, Arizona and put on a grand-level set with support from Canadian hardcore rockers Cancer Bats, and Phoenix local super-band Deathdotgov.
Deathdotgov only recently made their way into the local scene, but its members are likely familiar to many enthusiasts of Arizona’s punk and hardcore scene. The group consists of local veteran players such as guitarist Dylan Ewing, drummer Meghan Herring, vocalist Colton Westerman, guitarist John Bacino, and a seemingly ever-evolving roster of exceptional talent. As a unit, Deathdotgov unapologetically gives fans an experience like none other – and showgoers loved them, with high-energy moshing quite literally kicking things off early into the Evening.
The energy continued right where it left off with Cancer Bats making their first Arizona appearance in over a decade. The band wasted no time running, jumping, and spinning up and down the Nile stage, and entertained the audience with chunky, heavy breakdowns, double-time blast beats, and everything in-between. The band also surprised us all with a tastefully heavy rendition of the Beastie Boys classic “Sabotage”, which paved the way for the fun to go even further into the night.
The most notable highlight of the night of rock was, of course, Norma Jean, who frankly brought with them a flawless theatrical performance, and an impressive 20-track setlist spanning across nine albums, with hits such as “Memphis Will Be Laid To Waste”, “Blueprints For Future Homes”, “1,000,000 Watts”, and many more that clearly resonated with longtime fans on a deep, emotional level as they sang, screamed, and moshed together. Not to mention a powerful three-song encore to conclude their set.
I’ve attended a fair share of shows at The Nile over the last ten years, and while all have given me lifelong memories, few have been quite as impressive as Norma Jean and the bands they brought along with them for this special weeknight show. There was a legitimate sentiment in the air; a feeling of togetherness and friendship that was felt amongst everyone in the theater that night. Fans both new and old alike surely left the theater Wednesday night feeling satisfied and eager for Norma Jeans’ next Arizona stop.
