Images: Title Fight, Balance and Composure, Cruel Hand, Slingshot Dakota Sept. 26, 2013 at The Glass House (Pomona)

In a recent interview, Title Fight talked about how they’d grown up going to shows with bands from several different genres all playing together. That influence was definitely on display here, with indie dance pop, hardcore and emo alternative all on the same tour package.

As The Glass House started to fill in, Slingshot Dakota took the stage. Labelmates of Vegas’ own Caravels, the male/female duo from Pennsylvania has their roots in DIY shows, and have now grown to doing full U.S. tours. Despite having a completely different sound than the rest of the bands playing that night, the Mates of State-style keyboard and drum duo still had multiple fans singing their hearts out to top tracks like “May Day” and “Cassette.” The two actually got married just days after they played in Pomona, with Title Fight as their witnesses, so congrats to them!

Portland, Maine’s Cruel Hand immediately kicked off their high energy set with “Day or Darkness” and “One Cold Face.” The band took time to appreciate the California scene by shouting out to some bands from there such as Rotting Out, and Alpha and Omega, and after asking the crowd for help in naming locals, they sent a shout out to Southern California hardcore band ACxDC.

With the room filled shoulder to shoulder anxiously waiting, it was time for Balance & Composure’s set. This was my first time ever seeing them, and I couldn’t wait. They recently put out a new album through No Sleep titled The Things We Think We’re Missing which picks up right where Separation left off and lucky for us, our ears were treated with music old and new. I was especially excited to hear them play “Burden” which was unexpected and wild.

By the end of Balance and Composure’s set, the atmosphere was unbelievable. I was finally getting a chance to see Title Fight outside of the 110+ degree Warped Tour in a room without a barricade, which just made everything so much better, and allowed everyone to go crazy; kids jumping into the crowd to end up walking across everyone’s heads, front flipping into fans, it was insane. “Make You Cry” kicked off their 45 minute set, which also included a mix of old and new such as “Be A Toy” from their upcoming album Spring Songs, “27,” “No One Stays on Top Forever” and “Head In The Ceiling Fan,” which is somehow even better live. Bassist Ned Russin noted that this was their first time headlining at The Glass House, and it’s pretty awesome seeing how their fanbase has grown over the years. I can’t stop watching videos from this night, which was definitely a show to remember.

-Hunter Wallace | https://www.flickr.com/photos/hunter_wallace/