I Prevail has rapidly stormed into post-hardcore prominence in two short years. It seems like just yesterday that the Detroit natives released their renowned cover to Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space,” which elicited over two million views on YouTube almost immediately. With one EP (Heart vs. Mind) to their name, they’ve created a substantial fan base and are now enjoying a headlining U.S. tour promoting their debut record, Lifelines.
I Prevail’s live performance was short and stunning, much like the band’s rise over the past couple years. They didn’t spend much time on stage, however the musicians made the most of every second.
I Prevail emerged from behind their large black backdrop and lead off with “Scars,” the first single off Lifelines. The upbeat, electronic anthem set the tone and seized control of the crowds emotions. The intimate audience welcomed the strong opening and jumped up and down to the song’s big chorus.
The band and the audience fed off each other’s energy and the feelings carried over into “Heart vs. Mind” and “Face Your Demons,” which (unclean) vocalist Eric Vanlerberghe briefly dedicated to rapists and pedophiles. The energy levels remained just as strong even when the tempo slowed down. “My Heart I Surrender,” originally recorded as an acoustic track sounded exceptionally well live, despite the fact that I Prevail didn’t bring along their acoustic instruments.
The audience expected that I Prevail would unveil their “Blank Space” cover eventually, however the band built up the anticipation. Instead of just jumping into T-Swift’s anthem, I Prevail pronounced their love for the widely under-appreciated art.
Covers don’t even get any fucking respect.
I Prevail performed a medley of tracks, consisting of Linkin Park, Marilyn Manson and Rage Against The Machine prior to performing “Blank Space.” The anticipation swelled and energy surpassed any precedent set early in the show. Much to the audience’s surprise, in addition to turning the remodeled night club into a swirling mosh pit, I Prevail gifted the crowd with a performance of their unreleased (at the time) “Stuck In Your Head.”
A popular jab directed at I Prevail up to this point in their career has been their inability in topping a cover of a song that isn’t theirs. However, there’s reason to believe that the overused accusation will be unwarranted going forward.
With their debut album on the horizon and a headlining tour highlighting their profound talent, it’s more than likely that “Blank Space” will simply become a footnote in the band’s history soon enough. It’ll remain a staple in their set list, but it won’t define them much like is has up to this point.
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