Brennan Schnell | Flickr Creative Commons

Aaron Bruno of AWOLNATION

This past Saturday a sold-out crowd crammed into the Pageant to see genre-crossing band AWOLNATION command the landmark stage. The show was part of their “Never Let Your Fear Decide Your Fate” tour in support of their debut album “Megalithic Symphony.” Released in 2011, “Megalithic Symphony” received critical acclaim from humble music bloggers and mass media alike, with many praising the originality of the band’s music. Quite simply, there’s no one else out there making songs quite like AWOLNATION, and that’s partly why their album has been held up as one of the best of 2011.

The band is largely the brainchild of Aaron Bruno, who, after moving on from groups Under the Influence of Giants and Hometown Hero, started to record solo in a California studio, fusing elements of punk rock with electronica and pop. His unique style caught the attention of Red Bull Records, and AWOLNATION was signed in 2009, allowing Aaron and his bandmates the freedom to hone their distinctive sound.

The Saturday night show proved to be an electrifying experience, perfectly showcasing the band’s idiosyncratic songs and hard-hitting vocals. The night started with up-and-coming rapper Zeale, who built energy with a snappy set of sharp beats and catchy choruses. Second opener Imagine Dragons, which has been blowing up the music scene lately with its upbeat single “It’s Time,” played a powerful and uplifting set that unified the crowd and riled it up for the main act.

AWOLNATION came onstage to huge, raucous cheers from the masses, especially for the band’s front man Aaron Bruno. The band wasted no time in engaging the audience, opening with its gritty yet danceable “Guilty Filthy Soul,” and the show never slowed down after that. If the band’s music is frenetic and hard-hitting on the record, magnify that 100 times for their live performance. Even in slower songs like “All I Need,” the energy never faded, the crowd dancing energetically from the first minute to the last, eating out of the palm of frontman Bruno’s hand and swaying and jumping exactly on cue. “Sail,” the band’s platinum hit that rocketed it to recognition last year, filled The Pageant from wall to wall with its scratchy bass, meandering synths and a crowd screaming along with Bruno as he angrily growled, “Blame it on my ADD.” Other highlights of the night included the rip-roaring chorus of “Not Your Fault,” the upbeat and lighthearted “Kill Your Heroes” (the band’s latest single) and the breathless, blood-pumping “Burn It Down” with its fast-paced handclaps and rushed vocals. My ears were certainly ringing by the end.

Most of all, Bruno’s vocals proved to be the standout of the night. They stood up incredibly well to the live setting, never overpowered by the heavy and pulsing instrumentation that wove throughout the set. Indeed, Bruno is nothing if not a dynamic front man—throughout the hour and 15 minute stretch, he never stopped moving: writhing around, slouching on the edge of the stage, somersaulting and sliding with his shoes off. His hilarious performance, including an attempt to stand on the hands of the crowd, majorly added to the fervent and buoyant atmosphere of the show.

AWOLNATION finally ended their unforgettable set with their 15-minute epic “Knights of Shame,” also the closing song of “Megalithic Symphony.” Progressing effortlessly through genres and eras of pop and hip-hop, it was a fitting close to a show by a band that explores a gamut of moods, melodies and dance moves.