Live report by Thomas Kolbin

There is always a heightened sense of anticipation when a four-band bill promises an evening of modern alternative rock and heavy post-hardcore, and this show delivered plenty of moments worth talking about. So the FemMetal team traveled to Wiesbaden to see together Lifespark.,What Lies Below, Wayside, and Acres. I was really expecting a diverse spectrum of melodic intensity, high-energy riffs, and atmospheric soundscapes.

Opening the night, Lifespark. set a strong, engaging baseline for the crowd, kicking things off with impressive energy and a tight instrumental base. People just don’t give enough credit for opening bands sometimes! And following them, What Lies Below kept the momentum surging forward. This is shaping up to be a phenomenal lineup! 

However, the undisputed highlight of the entire evening was Wayside. This band knows exactly what the audience wants! Delivering a phenomenal performance from start to finish, I was blown away with a massive, crystal-clear sound and incredible vocal harmonies. Isobel “Izzy” De Leon was absolutely spectacular on bass and backing vocals. How are they not headlining their own tour yet? What a show!

Unfortunately, the night took a noticeable dip when Acres took the stage. While I am a fan of their studio recordings and album tracks remain favorites for their melodic depth, the live execution fell surprisingly short. It looks like the lead vocals struggled to hold up under the pressure of the live environment, but with heavy touring that might be somewhat understandable. As a result, despite strong performances from the rest of the lineup, Acres ended up being the weakest link in an otherwise great evening of live music.

More about Wayside:

Formed in Melbourne but with an ever-growing following across the globe, Wayside have built a sound that blurs the lines between shoegaze, dream-pop, post-hardcore, and atmosphere. 

Drawing influence from bands like Deftones, Balance and Composure, Title Fight, and Citizen, they balance crushing heaviness with airy, emotionally-raw songwriting. Last year, Wayside released their collaboration with Canadian grunge duo Softcult, ‘Can You See It?’, adding to the band’s two-album catalogue of over 12million streams. On the live circuit, Wayside have toured internationally multiple times including the US, UK, and Europe, plus appeared at New Bloom Festival and supported the likes of President, Sleeping With Sirens, Movements, Boston Manor, and more.