The other night I attended a Vision Video concert with Swedish post punk band, Then Comes Silence. This concert was actually a birthday present from one of my friends (thanks buddy!) and this was actually the second time we’ve seen both of these bands together. We first saw them last year at the Hook and Ladder. The good news is, Vision Video and Then Comes Silence are just as good a second time.
Then Comes Silence
Then Comes Silence has been around for a bit at this point and they know how to get a crowd moving. Everyone looked to be having a good time with them as openers. Many smiles were had amount the patrons.
Alex Svenson yet again had strong vocals. It helped that the Green Room had decent acoustics. Jonas Fransson kept a good beat on drums. Eat to dance to their music. Hugo Zombie on guitar was really getting into it and looked to be having fun on stage.
Dusty from Vision Video joined the stage for one song as Goth Dad is featured on their new album. Dusty meshed well with Them Comes Silence. I think it’s a real testament when bands want to tour together more than once. Apologies for the blury photo, only one I got and noticed after.
Then Comes Silecne has a certain command on stage. They know how to work a crowd. From what I understand and I could be wrong, they are bigger in Europe rather than the US (Which makes sense cause they’re from Sweden), but I wanted to note not every opening band can get a crowd to move, but Then Comes Silence got some people to start dancing.
This was their third time in the Twin Cities and I hope they make the journey again next year. If they tour with Vision Video again, it would be most welcome.
Vision Video
Now onto the headliner of this tour, but it could be argued this was a double headliner. Vision Video is just a solid band. Like I said at the start, this is the second time I’ve seen them and they’ve knocked it out of the park both times.
Dusty is always a pleasure and yet again donning the moniker of Goth Dad, it looks like someone finally got the milk, cause they came back! Dusty does an amazing job on guitar and vocals. Crisp and clean. Emily on keyboard was fantastic yet again. Unfortunately, Vision Video has lost their original bassist and drummer. From what I remember Dusty saying, they had personal life stuff come up, which best of luck to them as they were good musicians. While the band is still down a bassist, it appears they have a new drummer. The drummer’s name was Ryan if I remember right. Ryan was killing it on a couple songs there.
They played a good mix of songs and did a good job of the highs and lows in tone for this type of concert. Dusty likes to talk. Dusty will tell you that. I personally think it makes the show even better. There was some stuff said that was said last year, but I think it works because it explains the songs and reasons behind them well.
I want to note a couple songs. They did a cover of one of The Cure’s songs, Just Like Heaven. They did such a great job with this cover. The crowd was singing along, they looked like they were having fun up on stage. At the time of writing this, they have a new upcoming album they mentioned in what looks like October 2024. They played one of their new songs from it, and this is days before the music video is supposed to come out. From the preview we got, we are in for another solid album from Vision Video.
From all the concerts I’ve been to, I think goth concerts are some of the most respectful. I’m not saying there are never any proplems, or no bad actors, but on the whole, it’s a pretty fun environment. People are really happy to see each other and there is a more laid back feel when you walk in. The crowd is there to have fun, and it feels that way.
They were pretty tired by the end of the show, and said they weren’t going to do the fake walk off stage and then come back on for the encore. However, they realize some people like the tradition of it and made a compromise. They walked to the edge of the stage and crouched down for about a minute while the crowd started to cheer, “Encore! Encore! Encore!” Then, they stood up, got back in place and Dusty said something to the effect of, “I am so shocked, I did not believe you guys would do this.”
If you haven’t been to a Vision Video concert and you like goth or post punk, it’s a really good time. Consider looking at their tickets when they stop through your spot. I know I’d like to see them a third time myself, and can’t wait for them to make their return.
Concert Review: Vision Video with Then Comes Silence at Green Room is marked with CC0 1.0
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