Rock band Sleeping With Sirens are currently in the midst of a fully sold-out tour bringing a full-album playthrough of their quintessential emo/scene album, Let’s Cheers To This, to audiences across the United States. Accompanying the Sirens on all non-festival dates of the trek are Teenage Joans and Holding Absence. Music Scene Media had the privilege of catching the tour as it stopped through Oklahoma City at the Diamond Ballroom, a venue that the Sirens have performed at a few times through their career.
Upon arrival at the venue a few minutes before the doors were set to open, the crowd’s anticipation could be felt through the ever-growing line that looped through the parking lot unlike anything I’ve seen at this venue before in the years I’ve attended shows there - though thankfully it moved quicker than anticipated as everyone filed in and crowded near the stage for the night ahead.
First to take the stage were Teenage Joans, a rock duo hailing from Australia aiming to bring their grungy pop-rock to new audiences. They opened up the show with a brief yet energetic set featuring a few selections from their 2023 debut album, The Rot That Grows Inside My Chest, such as “Candy Apple” and “Ruby Doomsday”, as well as a cover of Pierce the Veil’s “Circles.” Though they mentioned that it was their first time playing in OKC, the crowd was very energetic, and they hope to return.
TEENAGE JOANS
Next up were Welsh rockers Holding Absence, also making their OKC debut, and absolutely rocking the house down in the process. The audience was jumping and singing along as the band performed with an undeniable amount of charisma that likely won them several new fans. Their set was also primarily selections from their 2023 album, titled The Noble Art of Self Destruction, including one of my personal favorites “A Crooked Melody.”
HOLDING ABSENCE
Finally, just after 9:00, and following audience chants of “Sirens!”, Kellin Quinn and crew took the stage to a deafening roar from the crowd, launching into an album that has brought comfort to millions since its release in 2011. Unlike some album-anniversary tours, though, they did shuffle the order, kicking off the set with “Tally It Up, Settle The Score” instead of “Do It Now, Remember It Later”, although that would come next, and saving “If You Can’t Hang” for the grand finale. The crowd sang along to every word, and came together to bond over a band and an album that has brought many of us comfort over the years, and it was a truly beautiful sight to behold. If you’re able to catch one of their upcoming shows, consider yourself to be amongst a privileged group of emo souls.
The 'Let’s Cheers to This' tour continues along the west coast, concluding with a pair of performances at Las Vegas’s When We Were Young Festival on October 19 & 20. All upcoming tour dates can be found on the band’s website.
SLEEPING WITH SIRENS
SLEEPING WITH SIRENS
