Montclair Rocks Hard with Nothing More at the Wellmont Theater

Nothing More took over the Wellmont Theater in Montclair, New Jersey, on November 19th for their Carnal Nature World Tour, delivering a performance that pushed the limits of a traditional theater-stage setup.

The band opened with “HOUSE ON SAND” and “ANGEL SON,” launching into a hard-driving start, sparking an immediate mosh pit that consumed the front of the stage.

Frontman Jonny Hawkins took the stage with his right chest and arm painted black, accented by sharp streaks of gold running across his skin, a striking visual detail that glimmered in the stage lights.

Crowdsurfers moved steadily toward the barricade as the set gained momentum. During “Let ’Em Burn,” Hawkins paused at the edge of the stage and extended the microphone to a fan being carried overhead, allowing her to deliver a line mid-crowdsurf before being guided forward by gleeful audience members.

The production design amplified the band’s presence, accenting their stage presence with a combination of lights and props perfectly matched to the band’s boisterous style. Ten-foot arrows lined the edge of the stage, illuminated by sleek LED light bars that flashed in coordinated patterns with the set.

Bassist Daniel Oliver, sporting tinted sunglasses, maintained an animated stage presence, frequently hopping on top risers and engaging with the front rows of the crowd as guitarist Mark Vollelunga performed barefoot, moving freely across the stage with a relaxed but high-spirited demeanor.

At center stage stood one of the night’s most technically ambitious elements, the band’s custom rotating guitar rig. Engineered to spin in wide arcs, the rig complemented the arrow imagery framing the stage as the trio of members began to gather around the instrument to play simultaneously. Vollelunga and Oliver played from opposite sides of the extended guitar while Hawkins struck its body percussively, drumming the rotating structure as it swung and pivoted above the stage.

Midway through the set, the band staged a dueling percussive drum solo between Hawkins and drummer Ben Anderson, utilizing two full drum kits on separate platforms, bathed in alternating vibrant red and blue lighting. 

“Freefall” featured guest vocals from Nathanael Pulley of Archers, igniting a surge of excitement, the audience responding with loud cheers and applause at the unexpected addition. Later in the set, the band invited the audience to vote between two songs, with “Spirits” ultimately winning over “Mr. MTV.” Hawkins followed the track up with “Jenny”, introducing it with, “this one’s for my sister,” before the band drove back into its heavier material.

The set closed with “This Is the Time,” followed by a thunderous drum solo from Hawkins that brought the night to a cathartic close. By the last strike, the Wellmont Theater had been fully consumed by Nothing More’s wild chaos, leaving the audience both exhilarated and spent from the relentless energy of the night.