A Borderland visit by Escape the Fate

A Borderland visit by Escape the Fate.

Now here comes a band that faithfully stops here in El Paso, on the average of every two years is Escape the Fate. Straight outa Las Vegas back in 04 Escape the Fate was founded and has only one original member in today’s band and that’s Robert Ortiz on percussion. Here’s a fun fact, Robert is from El Paso, this may have some bearing on why El Paso is a regular stop when the band tours, needless to say, Robert is pretty popular here in these parts, hence all the friends and family backstage, it’s always a family affair at the rock show. I personally have covered the band multiple times over the years, the first time I believe was in 2015. I wasn’t super familiar with Escape the Fate they were the headliner on a 4-band touring package. This venue had a small bar upstairs, and I was drinking with some guy that I had never met before, we kicked it for a minute, and I left. I get down to the pit waiting for the show to start and who walks out onto the stage, the guy I was drinking with upstairs Craig Mabbitt, our eyes met, and we both smiled. I had no idea, but I sure know now.

The band consists of Craig Mabbitt doing vocals, Robert Ortiz on percussion, Erik Jensen on Bass, Thomas Bell on guitar as well as Matt Hoffman on lead guitar. Like most, lineup changes are the norm, but what I noticed was it was the same members as the last time they were here at Speaking Rock which was I believe was two years ago, so let’s say, the magic has been found. They’ve had 8 releases in 18 years, the first in 06 and as of lately Out of the Shadows in 2023.

Craig and company hit the stage at 9:30 and one could tell, this band was on a straight mission to blow you away, prisoners will not be taken this evening’s watch, no we were in store for one hell of a rock show with Craig Mabbitt at the helm. We embarked on a 15-song set list that the band went through like a hot knife though butter. Cuts like H8 My Self, Gorgeous Nightmare, The Flood and Live Fast, Die Beautiful were absolutely crowd favorites. Craig made comment on how he loved the energy of this El Paso crowd and rightly so, after he said that, they busted in The Flood and a massive circle pit ensued, oh yeah, good times were had by all. And what can I say about Matti Hoffman on lead guitar, just a sheer incredible talented young man, a real pleasure to watch. As the evening began to close, songs like Cheers to Goodbye and One for the Money capped off the perfect evening of Metalcore/ Screamo / Emo or as I’d like to say, one fantastic night of pure rock and roll, great band, super venue and 5k in attendance, who could ask for more?

Review and Photography by Tim Schumann

Set List-

Forgive Me

The Flood

Lighting Strike

Live Fast, Die Beautiful

Ungrateful

Low

H8 My Self

Gorgeous Nightmare

Dearly Departed

10 Miles Wide