Post-Hardcore Band Crown The Empire to Headline Livewire, Mood Indigo 2016

Post-hardcore band Crown the Empire. Photo: Courtesy of Mood Indigo

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) ”“ Bombay’s annual cultural festival Mood Indigo’s band event Livewire has returned with an international headliner after opting for Bollywood artists in its previous year. Dallas, Texas post-hardcore/metal band Crown the Empire will perform at IIT Mumbai’s Livewire nite as part of Mood Indigo on December 23rd.

After bringing down prog bands such as UK’s Porcupine Tree (2009) or American artist Neal Morse (2013), Mood Indigo have been changing up their range in the past few years, going from punk rock (Simple Plan, 2012) to symphonic metal (Epica, 2014) and now to post-hardcore with Crown the Empire, best known for mingling melodic, arena rock-filling choruses with chaotic rhythmic patterns, breakdowns and growls akin to bands such as Of Mice & Men, Memphis May Fire and Asking Alexandria.

In addition to heading out on the Vans Warped Tour ”“ the mainstay of pop-punk, metalcore and post-hardcore bands ”“ alongside the likes of Good Charlotte, Yellowcard, Bullet for My Valentine and Whitechapel, Crown the Empire released their third album Retrograde in July. For a band that’s been around since 2010, it’s been a meteoric rise, which currently comprises vocalist-keyboardist Andy Leo Velasquez, vocalist-guitarist David Escamilla (currently on hiatus), guitarist Brandon Hoover, bassist Hayden Tree and drummer Brent Taddie. Leo says, “We are very privileged to get the chance to visit and perform in the beautiful country of India. Never before would we have dreamed of the chance to play live in front of an amazing crowd. We look forward to this and we look forward to meeting you all.”

Mood Indigo, for their part, are happy to be able to bring down an international band again. One of the challenges the festival faces, according to concerts head Pranay Jhunjhunwala, was finding an international band willing to fly down to India so close to Christmas. He adds that this year, they want to the crowd to experience a new genre of music, which retains the show’s energy levels. He adds, “Crown the Empire was instantly our favorite pick. We read some reviews and saw their live set – it was one of the most intense and energetic sets of a post-hardcore act.”

Tickets via registration and a paid entry for Rs 500 are on sale now.

Crown the Empire will perform at Livewire nite at Mood Indigo, IIT Bombay ”“ Powai, on December 23rd, 2016. Buy tickets here.

Watch Crown the Empire perform “Zero”