Nothing More brings the Carnal Nature World Tour to The Wellmont Theater

REVIEW BY AMBER BINTLIFF

With the North American leg of their Carnal Nature World Tour currently underway, Nothing More is reminding audiences of their commanding presence in the heavy music scene everywhere they go. The Texan rock band brought the killer show to The Wellmont Theater in Montclair, New Jersey on February 19th with support from Doobie, Archers and Catch Your Breath. 

Doobie kicked off the night with a set that celebrated a fusion of hip-hop and rock as the venue began to slowly fill up this past Thursday. The up-and-coming artist gave New Jersey a glimpse into the world of his art, captivating the crowd with his seamless blend of the two genres, undeniable passion and strong stage presence. While this isn’t my typical music style of choice, “Hate Song” and “Beauty in the Boogeyman” were two clear stand-outs from Doobie’s set that have now found themselves a home in my Liked Songs on Spotify. 

Archers continued to spark momentum, opening their set with “Made For Love” before diving into seven more heavy-hitters from their catalog. The Wisconsin-based metalcore band has been on my radar since the release of their explosive Temporary High EP last summer and I was stoked to finally catch them live. For the next 35 minutes, all four members of Archers delivered consistent energy that resonated with the crowd in front of them regardless of if they were previously familiar with the band or not. My favorite part of their set was when vocalist Nathanael Pulley called for an influx of crowdsurfers during “Say This Sober,” which intensified the entire room’s spirit almost instantly. 

few words can accurately convey the way Catch Your Breath commands a live audience. After their breakthrough in 2022 with “Dial Tone,” the rising alt-rock band explores the darker side of humanity through continued musical experimentation and evolution. Every second of Catch Your Breath’s performance served as a testament to the deep emotion, catharsis and grit embedded into the core of their artistry. With a 10-song setlist that showcased the strongest parts of who they are, Catch Your Breath proved to be the perfect addition to this lineup and hyped up the crowd for the night ahead with ease. 

When it came time for Nothing More to hit the stage, The Wellmont Theater roared with excitement. There was something particularly invigorating about how the band stepped on stage as if they owned every square inch. They commenced their killer set with “HOUSE OF SAND,” already proving that the crowd was in for a memorably chaotic night. Within what felt like seconds, crowdsurfers were flying towards the front as a massive mosh pit raged on from the center and vocalist Jonny Hawkins interacted with fans in the front few rows.

“IF IT DOESN’T HURT” and “Jenny” saw the crowd at their loudest. The way that the entire venue erupted during these two tracks served as a chilling reminder of Nothing More’s two decade-long impact. “Fade In/Fade Out” was another beautiful moment that was prefaced with guitarist Mark Vollelunga’s sweet speech dedicating the emotional song to any young children present at the show. 

Nothing More’s chemistry was undeniable from the second that this show began. The four bandmates present themselves with a magnetic and eye-catching demeanor that allows each to shine individually and also as a group. You could see that they weren’t just on stage because they had to be, but rather because they genuinely enjoy what they get to do together. 

The emphasis on their bond was only heightened during an impressive drum battle between Ben Anderson and Hawkins. The back-and-forth between the current and former drummer of the band was actually insanely entertaining to witness live. However, the chaos certainly didn’t stop there as Hawkins, Vollelunga and bassist Daniel Oliver came together for the famous bassinator,’a custom-built structure that’s specific to the band’s live experience and honestly something you just have to see for yourself. 

This night in Montclair was an extraordinary display of Nothing More’s invigorating passion and dedication to their craft. The Carnal World Tour continues across North America through mid-March, with its final show occurring in Austin, TX on March 19th. Tickets and information for nothing more’s remaining shows on this tour can be found here.