PRESIDENT Continues Its North American Campaign With a Sold-Out San Diego Rally, Supported by Showing Teeth
Originally featuring Cenobia as the second opener, the lineup made sense on paper. Their dark, cinematic sound contrasted with Showing Teeth’s brutality, while PRESIDENT blended both worlds. Due to her departure and with only 13 tracks which some under three minutes, the headlining set felt shorter than expected. Whether that’s a drawback depends on perspective; do you leave wanting more music or appreciate finishing early enough to spend the rest of the night reminiscing with newfound friends? Fortunately, PRESIDENT delivered an intimate, emotionally engaging experience that left the San Diego crowd wanting more.
As the sole opener, Showing Teeth carried the responsibility of warming up the crowd. Under PRESIDENT’s unconventional rules of engagement, vocalist Addison was the only performer able to interact with the audience traditionally. They proved their place on the bill, establishing themselves as a contender among the scene’s standout emerging female metal vocalists. The band’s rapid rise has been remarkable, and their debut album, A Fate Worse Than Loneliness, establishes them as serious competition. Honestly, they deserve a headlining tour soon. Opening with ‘Bad Exchanges’, their screams and deep guttural shouts shook the House of Blues as the mosh pit erupted before the band could even build momentum. Standouts ‘Shallow Grave’ and ‘Make It Out’ fueled moshing, two stepping, and crowdsurfing, while ‘Paradigm’ offered a more intimate moment, showcasing Addison’s clean vocals. ‘Rip’ ignited a brutal circle pit as Addison leaned backward, unleashing their signature shouts. Closing with fan favorite ‘Labyrinth’, the crowd screamed along to its iconic “ree’s” and snarls before the floor descended into complete mayhem.
PRESIDENT took the stage to the iconic “Ike for President” campaign anthem before plunging into neon-lit chaos with ‘FEARLESS’, prompting the crowd to chant every lyric. The collective euphoria throughout the set underscored the band’s infectious hooks and emotional connection with its fandom. ‘Destroy Me’ sparked shouting and crowdsurfing, while ‘Angel Wings’ sent the pit into tearful moshing before its devastating breakdown. The live debut of ‘dark heaven’ opened with a breakdown that split the crowd apart in anticipation of the ensuing mosh pit, followed by unified chants during its call and response lyrics. A unique addition to the set was a cover of Deftones’ ‘Change (In the House of Flies)’ which PRESIDENT made their own with their distinctive blend of raspy and clean vocals. Closing with fan favourite ‘In the Name of the Father’, the band unleashed a final wave of chanting, moshing, and crowdsurfing. A silent gesture prompted the crowd to split, transforming the final breakdown into a wall of death.
PRESIDENT continues to establish itself as a force in metalcore, with a fanbase whose connection to the music grows stronger with every performance. The tour also gave Showing Teeth a significant platform, cementing them as an emerging act worth watching. Catch PRESIDENT and Showing Teeth at next year’s Sonic Temple, and join the PRESIDENT campaign as it heads to the UK and Europe in the coming weeks.
