Red at the Gramercy Theatre

Towards the end of the Red concert, Michael Barnes
left the stage and sang while balancing on a barrier.

Red (also stylized as R3D) formed in 2004 in Nashville, Tennessee, and within two years had a debut album nominated for a Grammy Award in the Rock Gospel category. The band rocked hard enough to cross over to secular audiences, although not with the degree of success it has enjoyed in the Christian market. Red has released four studio albums, the latest of which is this year’s Release the Panic. The band's lineup presently consists of singer Michael Barnes, guitarist Anthony Armstrong, bassist Randy Armstrong and drummer Joe Rickard.

When Red headlined the Gramercy Theatre in May 2013, the band performed for 75 minutes. Opening tonight for Filter at the same venue, Red cut its show almost in half. Red’s current stage set was stripped down as well; gone were the risers, graffiti-strewn backdrops and rows of lights. Nevertheless, Red’s performance tonight was every bit as fiery and energetic as the spring concert. Red rocked as hard as thunder. Barnes sang and screamed the lyrics with stunning clarity and continually paced the length of the stage, commanding it well, while the guitar-bass-drums backing pulsed and throbbed loud and strong behind him. The abbreviated show seemed to focus more on the harder and more current songs like "Release the Panic", "Perfect Life" and "Die for You." The encore, "Breathe into Me," was the softer and more melodic song that put the band on the musical map in 2006, but tonight it seemed almost out of context following all the head-banging rhythms earlier.

Visit Red at www.redmusiconline.com.