Detroit, Michigan post punk/ metal band I Prevail are pleasantly surprised that most of their shows on their current tour in support of their debut CD “Lifelines” are sold out. That included their March 10 show at Coyote Joes. The event was so popular, that it has been moved to the bigger venue of Average Joes.
“It’s a great feeling. It‘s been phenomenal,”said ‘harsh’ vocalist Eric Vanlerberghe.
“And 
we got off to a rough start with colds and the other singer (clean vocalist) Brian Burkheiser got pneumonia,” said Vanlerberghe, who along with band mates Burkheiser, lead guitarist Steve Menoian and drummer Lee Runestad, grew up listening to post punk and screamo music combining spooky melodic vocals and harsh, screaming vocals and detuned, riff heavy guitar, which earmarks I Prevail’s sound.
“The first half of the tour was completely sold out and it looks like the second half will be sold out too. It’s been insane,” he enthused, adding it has been surprising since half the band was sick for them.
“We have a pretty strong presence on social media like Facebook. We’re always reaching out to the kids,” he continued,” he said.
“ And we spend a lot of time touring. We had a lot of success from our first EP”
They have released three singles from the new CD including “Scars,” “Stuck in Your Head” and “Alone.”
And “Blank Space” from their 2014 debut EP “Heart and Mind” charted at number nine on the U.S. rock charts.
“A lot of kids have listened to it or picked up a copy, so it seems to have worked,” he said.
He noted the contrast of sung vocals and screamed vocals means the band has a wide appeal.
“There’s a good mix of heavy and more melodic music. People who don’t really like heavy music will hear the softer parts and say ‘I like this,’” he continued.
“ It’s still energetic.”
They are enjoying playing with a variety of bands including Wage War and Assuming We Survive who are on the bill in Lethbridge.
“It has been a lot of fun. All the bands we’ve been playing with are super dudes. We’ve been sick, but we’ve enjoyed hanging out with the other bands and having a few drinks with them,” he said.
After the Canadian tour, they are off to Australia for a tour.
“We’re doing some festivals over there with a bunch of bands. And after that we’re doing another tour of the United States and (in May) we’re going to Europe,” he said.
Tickets for the Lethbridge show at Average Joes are close to sold out. They are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Tickets for the Coyote Joes show will be honoured at the door of the new venue Average Joes.
