On Monday night local trio Chip & The Charge Ups featuring father and daughter Chip and Maleena Dominick kicked off the show at Jergels in Warrendale. Their opening set included their Black & Gold anthem, “The Ol’ Two Niner,” which honors former professional ice hockey player Phil Bourque, as well as other upbeat originals like “Sideways Middle Finger” and a cover of Blondie’s “The Tide Is High” before the alternative metal band September Mourning took the stage.
Emerging from a sea of strobe lights, frontwoman and resident screamer Emily Lazar took center stage in full character costume and makeup while her band lurked in the shadows. Fans dialed in as the band performed and their story of a girl trapped between the worlds of the living and the dead unfolded on video behind the band.
September Mouring, who we first caught as part of the Masquerade artist showcase in Philadelphia, can be found on the road with headliners Liliac, who make regular visits to the ‘Burgh. Sadly, we were traveling last year and has missed them. Given that they are a family of young siblings, it is amazing how much they have all changed and grow in the past two years both as musicians and as people.
The band is Melody Cristea on lead vocals, guitarist Samuel Cristea, drummer Abigail Cristea, bassist Ethan Cristea and keyboardist Justin Cristea. Blake brought out the fangs to join the band on the electric cello, and their father Florin continues to manage and produce the bands music. Time seems to have flown by sing the family of musicians once appeared on America’s Got Talent with the family recently celebrating the wedding of drummer Abigail!
Frontwoman Melody first caught up with The Pure Rock Shop back in 2022 to introduce us to Liliac and to share her personal influences like the music of Ronnie James Dio. As such DIO Band favorites like “Rainbow in the Dark” and “Holy Diver” are still a good part of the band’s lengthy set and rightfully so given the Melody’s powerful and raspy voice fits the songs perfectly. Other covers included my personal favorite, the White Stripes song “Seven Nation Army” and Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train.”
As the band’s own sound continues to evolve, they are adding brand new songs to their live set to accompany must-hear originals like “Dear Father” and “Carousel.” Additionally, we really thought that the band kicked the energy up a notch or two last night. Perhaps due to Justin’s ability to join his brothers in a bit more jamming with the versatility of his keytar, or the excitement around Abigails return to the kit, or maybe its just the growing confidences that comes from years of performing around the globe…whatever the reason, it was infectious as fans kept apologizing for bumping each other as they jumped around in response.
We look forward to the official release of the new music and can’t wait to catch the band again for another show (or two) on the Monsters of Rock Cruise again in March!
Follow us @ThePureRockShop on Facebook and Instagram for more local shows like Winger and Halestorm, and be sure to hit our archives for more Liliac band coverage.
Coverage by Editor and founder Kara Marie Uhrlen on 7/15/2024. All event photos © Kara Uhrlen and The Pure Rock Shop.
