Converge and Fans Confuse Each Other Equally

A fan trying to get Converge bassist Nate Newton's attention kept shouting "Hey, I'm a jew!" until Newton -- who was setting up his gear on the tall Hammerstein stage -- caught on.

"Did you just say 'I'm a jew?'" Newton asked inbetween mic checking and adjusting his gear. After the fan replied that he was proud of his heritage, Newton confusingly replied, "I'm proud for you?"

If you're thinking it must have been an awkward moment for everyone involved, it was. But, the band repaired the situation by baffling the audience with one of the most impressive sets I've ever seen from a hardcore/metal act.

They played mostly 'Axe to Fall' songs. Though very new, it's an incredibly strong record to welcome newbies into the world of Converge. 'Worms Will Feed' starts off like a 'Dirty Black Summer' tribute and then sludges its way into an elegant, Converge-styled tantrum.

It's Converge's fourth tour with Mastodon. As frontman Jacob Bannon noted, they are all "best friends ever" at this point in their careers. While Converge has been a band for almost 10 years more than Mastodon, they have not climbed the ladder of fame as high as the Southern beardos. The chances of Converge selling out an over 3,000 capacity venue like their tourmates Dethklok are pretty slim, too, but that doesn't change the spirit of the noisy maniacs.

"Thank you for sharing your time with us this evening," Bannon gracefully said to the bewildered crowd. He's a lunatic on stage, running and jumping with his windbreaker jacket spraying sweat in all directions. Yet, Bannon's banter is some of the most mellow, settling stage-talk to ever be witnessed.

I'm sure the two nights they played Hammerstein Ballroom in midtown Manhattan, many young lives were changed at the all ages show. I know my spirit of new music was sucker-punched and revived all in one take. Thank you Converge.