Wednesday Nights Are for Sleeping with Sirens

Nothing beats a weekday show. Spending the day at work anticipating your plans, only to immediately slam your laptop shut at 5 p.m. and rush out the door. It feels like the last hour before summer break, with the excitement building as you get closer to the venue.

Starland’s fall season has been nothing short of spectacular. The iconic venue has hosted every legendary emo and alternative band, including MCR, Blink-182, and Fall Out Boy, and this year’s lineup is no different. Every weekend brings an artist you can’t miss, making this place a second home for some.

By 6:15 on Wednesday, November 4th, fans were packed tightly into every corner of the room, giving Shyeye a full-house welcome to the stage. After an incredible set, Rain City Drive took their turn, bringing just as much hype and energy to the room.

As fans patiently waited, posters and kandi bracelets in hand, there was an undeniable sense of camaraderie throughout the crowd. The suspense continued to build, occasionally broken by an IHOP cheer (a Starland tradition), while concertgoers bonded with those around them, even if they were meeting for the first time. Every audience member was welcoming, inclusive, and supportive of one another, a testament to Sleeping with Sirens’ incredible fanbase.

One by one, the band members made their way to the stage, stopping along the way to shake fans’ hands. Cheers immediately erupted, and that would be the last time Starland experienced any silence for the rest of the night.

“Kick Me” started the night’s chaos, as concertgoers crowdsurfed their way forward for an adrenaline rush and a closer view of the show. The fangirls impressively kept one hand up to support the overhead bodies and the other reaching toward frontman Kellin Quinn, who showed every bit of appreciation he could to the fans who showed up early.

The band is stacked with incredible members, including bassist Justin Hills, who is the only other member besides Kellin Quinn himself to appear across all albums. Beside the original member duo stands Matty Best behind the kit, alongside Nick Martin and Tony Pizzuti on guitar.

The setlist covered almost every album and was packed with fan favorites. The band played the title track off their latest album, “An Ending in Itself,” alongside “Bomb Dot Com 2.0,” “A Trophy Father’s Trophy Son,” and “House of Matches,” all before the encore.

Building toward the highlight of the night, the band’s encore wasn’t one to miss. Closing the show with “If I’m James Dean, You’re Audrey Hepburn” and “If You Can’t Hang” had fans pouring everything they had into their last moment of Quinn-prescribed catharsis, showing just how much they appreciated the Florida band making their way to Jersey once again.

Photos and review by Bek Allegretti