It has been one hell of a good year for In This Moment! Maria Brink, the front lady from In This Moment, was just crowned the Rock Goddess of the Year in the 3rd Annual Loudwire Music Awards and her band just signed to a new record label.
She has come a long way since having to postpone several shows on her band’s headlining Hellpop Tour due to illness in January.
Brink got down with the sickness on January 10th, the night of her Chicago show. Strep throat and a fever sidelined this vocalist for three shows on the tour including Ft. Wayne, Indiana and Cincinnati, Ohio.
The openers for the originally scheduled Hellpop Tour dates, Devour The Day, Butcher Babies and All Hail The Yeti performed free shows at all three venues.
“I haven’t had strep throat since I was 15 years old??? This is a complete nightmare !!!!!! My throat is closed in and I have a vicious fever . I love you all so much and I’m soooo sorry I’m so sick . The doc has me on all kinds of medicine to heal quick . All the other bands that are on the tour are still preforming tonight for free entry!!! We will be rescheduling to make this up to you ! With love and respect , Maria xoxo” ~ Maria Brinks Wonderland
After eagerly waiting for over three weeks… and waiting for them to get back from the Caribbean Shiprocked Tour, In This Moment stayed true to their rescheduling promise. They finally took the stage for their highly anticipated final Hellpop Tour stop at the House of Music & Entertainment located in Arlington Heights, a northwestern suburb of Chicago.
Devour The Day and All Hail The Yeti opened for In This Moment on their rescheduled dates. Butcher Babies are currently performing all across Europe and couldn’t make it to the rescheduled shows.
The day after their Chicago gig, In This Moment signed to Atlantic Records and are going to be working on their new album this month!
I see shows on a weekly basis, but this was my first time seeing In This Moment. I can’t believe it took me this long to witness the spectacle of a show. I stood in the photo pit with my cameras in both hands and butterflies in my stomach. There is something so mesmerizing about Maria Brink and the musicians of In This Moment. You can tell by their promo photos that you know you’ll be in for a good show. Their still photos even make noise to me. The poster for the Hellpop Tour was pretty damn cool too.
The moment I had been waiting for for so long was about to occur, the band was about to begin. The lights dim, fog fills the stage, my heart beats a little faster, my camera meets my eye, the music starts playing, and the beautiful Brink steps up on her platform made of white mannequin body parts, and a huge white back light fills to reveal a sultry silhouette.
Beyond the fog, Brink was complete with red top hat, tight corset, killer heels and thigh-high stockings. Of course, even though my eyes were drawn to Brink, they quickly glanced on either side of her to notice her two white-masked female dancers, scantily clad in tank tops and panties.
After her grandiose entrance, lights fill the entire stage revealing the rest of In This Moment: lead guitarist Chris Howorth, guitarist Randy Weitzel, bassist Travis Johnson and drummer Tom Hane.
In This Moment’s signature songs, “Adrenalize”, “Whore”, “Blood” and more were played and their stagecraft and showmanship won me over. I definitely was not going to just stand up and bop my head. The crowd and I got to feel their energy, enjoy the lights, set design, costume changes, props, smoke cannons, dancers, energetic musicians and let the atmosphere and lyrics deliver the stories of each song.
Almost every song Brink had some sort of costume change whether it was a new hat, new heels, wings, corsets… she transformed herself. I call her a metal singer, semi-burlesque performer, musical actress and she’s completely raw with emotion. This gal doesn’t just sing a song, she becomes the song and lets the lyrics move her from madness and sadness to elation and celebration.
It’s not even the halfway point in February and this band is on fire; 2014 is going to be In This Moment’s most momentous year yet!