Crystal Buchberger
CONCERT PHOTOS + REVIEW
Icon For Hire
W/ Halocene + Embers Rise
10/17/24 – The Annex – Madison, WI
©Crystal Buchberger
Walking down a dimly lit sidewalk, I could see a brick building with a sign that broke through the dark and read “The Annex.” Connected to a lively sports bar, this Madison, Wisconsin venue was making soundwaves throughout the block. Large windows revealed a ton of people at tables cheering, and holding up beers. Just a couple steps away was another entrance that led me into the venue for tonight’s headliner, Icon For Hire.
A security guard welcomed me through the doors as music blared from the opening band, Autumn Reverie. I was directed through a corridor that contained merch that showcased nearly exclusively black concert tees. A bar wrapped around a corner where the seats were already occupied by regulars. As the next band, Embers Rise, made their way to the stage multiple people abandoned their spots to get a glimpse of their set.
The stage was intimate, where the only thing preventing you from touching the band members was a short barricade and the length of your arms. The room was filled with fans testing the boundaries of our hosts.
Halocene made their way on stage, showing a rocking enthusiasm for the very last show of their tour. Bradley Amick proudly took his place on the guitar. However, it was clear the real star of the band was Addie Nicole Amick as she danced her way around the stage as if that’s where she was born to be.
Icon For Hire’s set started off with a wave of screaming fans. Their setlist had the perfect mix of old and new. The entire crowd moved to the beat of their hits ‘Get Well,’ ‘Hope of Morning,’ and ‘Venom.’ Ariel Bloomer’s wholesome personality encapsulated the entire audience. “I like to believe that something magical happens when a bunch of strangers get together in one room and sing the same thing,” she said while encouraging the audience to sing along. Between Ariel’s hard-hitting vocals and Shawn Jump’s electrifying guitar, the show rocked the entire building.
The concert ended with Icon For Hire pounding out the very last song of their entire tour, ‘Make a Move.’ While the show was over for the bands, it wasn’t over for the crowd. Determined to keep the party going, most made their way to the attached bar, The Red Zone. Although small, The Annex still makes a mighty impact on the underground concert scene in Madison.
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