On Thursday, July 18th, we caught The Early November at Asbury Lanes in Asbury Park, NJ with Hit the Lights, Cliffdiver, and Flycatcher. Mike Capuano (photographer) and I were mostly there to cover The Early November and were not very familiar with the opening acts. This can sometimes be a pain because if the opening acts aren’t to your liking, the show can drag as you wait for the headliner. However, this was not the case with this show, as all the opening acts were fantastic.

Flycatcher started the show as the local opener from New Jersey. Their opening song featured just the singer playing solo before the band kicked in, giving us a taste of what was to come. The band played six songs, many of them driving alt-rock jams featuring impressive guitar work and drumming. It was interesting to hear towards the end of the set that the band was playing with a fill-in drummer, as they sounded incredibly tight. They also played a couple of new unreleased songs that felt among the stronger material performed, promising for their future. I will definitely be checking out their new material as it drops.

The next act on the bill was an emo/pop punk band called Cliffdiver. I was vaguely familiar with them, having listened to their 2022 album once. This band absolutely blew both me and Mike away. They had an excellent mix of Free Throw-influenced emo and classic early 2000s pop punk. The band was a seven-piece featuring two singers (one male, one female), two guitars, a saxophone, bass, and drums. The saxophone added a unique sound, and they even hinted at some ska in one of their songs towards the end of their set.

Throughout the set, the band’s stage presence was incredible. They often encouraged audience participation, keeping the crowd engaged. Their singers also did an excellent job of sharing stories about the songs, which really connected with the audience and took their set to a whole new level. If you have a chance to see this band live, I highly recommend it; they are truly a one-of-a-kind live act.

After Cliffdiver, we were transported back to the late 2000s pop punk scene with Hit the Lights. It was clear that this band does pop punk extremely well. They played a mix of high-energy songs that were clearly very meaningful to their audience. You really got the sense that the band was excited to be playing again and committed to reviving the project beyond this string of shows. One of the show’s highlights came when their singer and guitarist turned a technical issue into an unplanned intimate performance. They handled the issue with real professionalism. The show also ended with the band announcing that they have recorded new music, so be on the lookout for more from them soon.

After all the wonderful opening acts, it was time for The Early November. They kicked off their set with Ace Enders playing an incredible version of “Call off the Bells” solo until the full band joined in for the big ending. What was immediately apparent was the energy and stage presence of the additional live members. These players did not feel like hired guns but instead felt as invested in the performance as Ace and Jeff (the two official members of the band).

The band continued with a career-spanning set featuring songs from all their albums. It was nice hearing rarities such as “I Don’t Care,” “Ave Maria,” and “Boxing Timeline.” The Early November blended their songs in a way that felt fresh and cohesive. One standout was how impressive Ace’s voice is live, sometimes choosing to sing even higher, more intense melodies, making the songs harder to sing. He is truly one of the best live singers in the genre and a big reason why I have seen the band so many times over the years.

Of course, the band saved many classics for last, ending their set with songs from 2004 or earlier, including “Baby Blue,” “Ever So Sweet,” and “Every Night’s Another Story.” For me, the highlight came with the last song they played. Since I got my hands on The Acoustic EP before The Room’s Too Cold, I have been a big fan of “Make It Happen.” The full band version of the song wasn’t officially released until their 2022 album Twenty. The band’s decision to close with this rare deep cut meant a lot to me, as it was the first time I had the pleasure of hearing it live. It was a wonderful memory I will cherish for a long time.

If you have a chance to catch this lineup of The Early November, do not hesitate to go. While they don’t feature many of their original members, the band is tighter and more passionate live than ever. I will make sure to cover their tour whenever they come around in the future.

All photos by Mike Capuano.

review by Bryan Williams