I'm sure I speak for many fans that were in attendance on a cold night at Three Links in Dallas, TX that it was colder than a bitch on December 4th. Nothing would have been better than staying at home in bed with the heat on. Well... let me rephrase that because there was absolutely one thing better, and that was getting to experience the "Tragedy of The Commons Tour." Great American Ghost was joined by Saltwound, Downswing, and Wristmeetrazor for a night that perfectly blended metalcore, hardcore, and the love of live music.
Saltwound started the night off with a bang. You know you're in for a good time when one of the first things you hear from a band is "This is Saltwound, Motherfucker" followed by the crunchiest and tastiest breakdowns ever. I've been listening to Saltwound for quite some time now and am beyond disappointed it took me this long to finally catch them live. The barrage of heaviness never stopped once the entire time the band was on stage and I am already impatiently waiting for their return to DFW.
Downswing hit the stage next and it was everything I needed and more. If you're a long time reader of Music Scene Media, you should already know I'm a major fan of Downswing, especially after their recent album, And Everything Was Dark, dropped. I've probably played that album once a day since it came out and getting to hear those songs live was beyond needed for me. I'm surprised I was able to get any good photos of the band as I was head banging far too much. The only thing that would have been able to make Downswing's set better (which was already close to perfect) would have been if AVOID was on the tour package to perform "Bound to Misery" together. Sounds like Downswing needs to come back and do it again if you ask me.
Getting to cross another band off the Watch Bucket-list was just the thing to make the night even better. Wristmeetrazor has been on my radar for a long time and I've just never been able to make it happen. Watching them take the stage and immediately make it all their own was as incredible as you could imagine. Each and every moment of the band's set proceeded to demolish expectations of what was yet to come. The chaos that Wristmeetrazor brings to the stage should be studied because they have that special something that a lot of today's bands are missing. I would not be surprised if the next time Wristmeetrazor comes back to the DFW area that they'll be able to do it bigger and better and push the envelope of the genre.
After much moshing, head-banging, and screaming along, it was finally time for Great American Ghost to take the stage. Where to even begin when talking about this band. Ever since I saw them open alongside Enterprise Earth and Signs of the Swarm for Fit For An Autopsy back in 2022, I've been hooked. Every time they return to the DFW area, I make it a point to see them, even if it means braving a potential tornado that is on the way. The moment this show was announced, I knew where I was going to be. 2025's "Tragedy of The Commons" was by far some of the best work to come from Great American Ghost.
Immediately as the band took the stage, the crowd, fans, bands, and venue staff erupted into a sea of applause and cheering. With each and every chug, breakdown, and drum fill, you could feel the energy radiate from the stage. Hearing songs like "Scars", "Forsaken", and "Lost In The Outline" live scratched the itch I didn't know I had. It was exactly what was needed on that cold night. There's absolutely no denying the level of talent Great American Ghost has, but there is something that makes them so much more than just a band. That is their level of realness, their dedication to the craft, and how much they truly appreciate each and every fan. Countless times throughout the set, vocalist Ethan Harrison stopped to thank the crowd, shout out the bands on the tour package and the local opener, and kept it as a real as possible with the fans in attendance.
