As It Is - 11/07 (Boston, MA)

We were just readers; we soaked in every chapter. Yet, when transatlantic pop-punk band, As It Is,  went on hiatus the world briefly entered a never happy ever after. Last Summer, the band reunited with their original lineup; Patty Walters, Ben Biss, Patrick Foley, and Alistair Testo. One could call that a “Never Happy Back Together.” The freshly reunited band released a collection of unreleased demos and b-sides, A Decade Uneventful, before teasing their first live show back being Slam Dunk Festival.  The band had much more in store for the fans; guitarist Ben Biss being quoted as saying, “the best ten year anniversary any band has done for an album.” This was no exaggeration for their ten-year re-release of Never Happy, Ever After is arguably more of a force than the influential original from 2015. The reimagined Never Happy, Ever After X includes 13 features; from scene legends like Kellin Quinn (Sleeping With Sirens) and Ella Meadows (Transit, Narrowcast) to newer artists inspired by As It Is themselves such as Noah Adams (Noahfinnce) and Rae Brazill (Artio). 

Officially, the As It Is hiatus may have lasted for two years (2022 - 2024), however, it has been even longer since the whole original lineup set foot on stage; the last run together pre-hiatus being November 2019 with the Ben Today, Gone Tomorrow tour. That’s a whopping six years in between live performances. Six years is a long pause, and it had been six years since the original lineup hit the United States for a tour. All changed when the freshly reunited band announced their tenth US tour and first run with the original lineup since 2019’s US The Great Depression Run. Starting with Boston and ending with the Orlando revival of Vans Warped Tour, As It Is toured the East Coast with support from Cherie Amour and Bearings. Two sets (including Never Happy Ever After in full), one coast, unlimited positive vibes. This acted as an anniversary tour for their debut album as well as a “Road to Warped Tour” run.  I was lucky enough to capture the Tenth Time Lucky tour on their Boston date, November 7th, at Brighton Music Hall. This was the aftermath: 

Cherie Amour

Bearings

As It Is