The Funeral Portrait, a punk rock band from Atlanta, Georgia, headlined their third
annual "The Nightmare Before Halloween" show at The Dark Roast in Chattanooga,
Tennessee, with support from bands Knucklehead, My Captain, My King, and Caramore.
It was a small venue, but the night was an intimate one as friends old and new joined
together to rock out to some of their favorite songs. The Funeral Portrait's fan base call
themselves the "Coffin Crew," and seeing a TFP show is known as a "Devotional." With
how close both the crowd and the band were, this was incredibly accurate.
From the second the band stepped onto the stage, it was impossible to look away as
their energy and enthusiasm captivated the crowd. The stage might have been small,
but they rocked around it as if they had all the room in the world. Speaking of, the set
up they had on the stage really added to their already excellent presentation. In either
corner were signs of neon coffins with skulls on the inside, which fit the style of their
band well. Additionally, for the first few songs, each member wore different headpieces,
from bunny ears to flowers and horns, since it was their Halloween show. The
atmosphere in the room was a fun one, as they danced about the stage and interacted
with their fans, who were having the absolute best time, headbanging and singing every
word to the music. I always love it when bands are interactive with the crowd, and that's
something The Funeral Portrait did so well. Not only did they converse with the crowd
between songs, joking and making everyone laugh, but during songs, they would come
up to crowd members, give them fist bumps, pat them on the head, or anything else
that made them feel included in the show. It always left the fans with a giant smile on
their faces.
Another highlight of the show was watching the band members interact amongst
themselves. It was clear from observing them that they're a tight knit group. They
moved as one cohesive unit, presenting a comfortable chemistry. Truly, the whole show
felt like one big family coming together to enjoy a night of music. All of the crowd was
welcoming of each other, and the Funeral Portrait always makes sure to stress that
anyone is welcome at a Devotional Ceremony. Every show, two of their members kiss,
which they refer to as "Emo Boys Kissing." This display, which had the audience jumping
up and down, and several bringing out pride flags, made the room feel safer than almost
any show I've been to before.
I was so impressed with TFP's set, and I already can't wait to see them again next time
they come near. If you haven't had a chance to see them live, I definitely recommend it.
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