This Is How The World Continues Tour

Crusens on Farmington Road - West Peoria IL | April 26th, 2022

Written by: Brandi Lyn

Badflower (w/ BRKN LOVE and 68) 

In 2021 Badflower announced their tour to promote their album This Is How The World Ends. Touring under the same name along with Teenage Wrist and Dead Poet Society. In 2022 Badflower announced their second tour, This Is How The World Continues Tour. Starting in April touring the US with BRKN LOVE and 68 — and ending in May touring in Canada with Chastity.

BRKN LOVE

The doors to Crusens on Farmington Road in West Peoria IL opened at 6:00pm. Packing the bar full of people. Opening the show BRKN LOVE took the stage; playing songs from their 2020 Self-titled album BRKN LOVE. The band consists of - Guitarist/Vocalist Justin Benlolo, Guitarist Kyle Duke, Bassist Nick Katz and Drummer Russell Holzman. 

'68

‘68 were next to perform before Badflower were set to take the stage. For this particular performance, the stage crew set the drummer's drum kit on the side of the stage facing the singer. ‘68 is a two-man band from Georgia, consisting of Guitarist/Vocalist Josh Scogin —formerly from the band The Chariot— and Drummer Nikko Yamada.

Badflower

Consisting of Singer/Guitarist Josh Katz, Lead Guitarist Joey Morrow, Bass Guitarist Alex Espiritu and Drummer Anthony Sonetti. Badflower was formed in 2013 in Los Angeles; “blossoming” as an indie rock band. Before becoming Badflower, Josh Katz and Joey Marrow formed their band The Cartunes in 2008.

Badflower mostly performed songs from their 2021 Album This Is How The World Ends with thier songs ‘Fukboi’, ‘Don't Hate Me’, ‘Johnny Wants to Fight’, ‘Stalker’, ‘Sasshole’, ‘Machine Gun’, ‘Family’, and ‘Only Love’. And played a few tracks from their 2019 album Ok, I’m Sick ; ‘Heroin’, ‘X ANA X’, ‘The Jester’, ‘Ghost’, ‘Promise Me’, ‘Cry’, and ‘We're in Love’.

Starting off the show, a mix of audio clips from their songs played on the speakers as the band entered the stage - followed by their song ‘White Noise’ from their 2016 EP ‘Temper’.

Singer Josh Katz walked on stage with a cow-printed guitar. Switching from 3 different guitars throughout the show; one being the cow-printed guitar, one being a flower-printed guitar, and another being a wooden brown-colored guitar with a black pick guard.

“Peoria this place is fucking slammed”. Josh said after switching to the flower-printed guitar. “You know we’re not Machine Gun Kelly right?” He asked and the crowd cheered.

During their 3rd song ‘Don’t Hate Me’ a fan threw a leopard-printed bucket hat onstage; which Josh decided to put on. Another fan threw a cow-printed hat with horns on stage that Josh, later on, switched to during their song ‘Johnny Wants to Fight’.

“I like this, I just have a whole hat store right at my fingertips, I can just pick whichever hat fits with which mood.” Josh said. “If anyone wants to donate to my collection of hats, just throw em.”

While Badflower performed their 4th song ‘Johnny Wants to Fight’, a bartender of Crusens; his name happens to be Johnny, stood on top of the bar and sang along with the crowd.

“If Johnny wants to fight, let him fight Let him kick some fucking ass into the ground Singing Hallelujah” - Johnny Wants to Fight

After their song ‘Only Love’, Josh asked the crowd if any of them have seen them perform before.

“Have any of you seen us play before?” Josh asked and a bunch of fans raised their hands and cheered. “First time? Anyone?” He looked around the room and some more of the crowd cheered. “I feel like between those two questions that should have accounted for everybody but that wasn’t everybody… What about the rest of you? Are you not here?

Am I crazy?” Again Josh asked “Who hasn’t seen us play?” This time the crowd cheered louder. “And who has?”

During their song ‘Promise Me’ (following with their song ‘Cry’) - the stage crew brought out a piano for Josh. He rolled up his sleeves and started playing the slow intro to ‘Promise Me’ on the keyboard.

After performing their song ‘Cry’, Josh walked off stage as the stage crew moved the piano away to the side of the stage.

For their 11th song; the band invited 68’ member Josh Scogin to perform alongside them for their song ‘Stalker’. As the song starts to play, Josh (who is now shirtless) walks onstage and to the front of the crowd. The crowd cheered and screamed along to the intro of the song. During this song, Josh climbed onto a set of speakers on the side of the stage - along with walking across the bar to the back of the crowd.

During the middle of the song; the backtrack audio cuts to a clip of Will Smith saying “Keep my wife’s name out your fucking mouth” along with Chris Rock saying “Wow dude”. Again the audio of Will Smith repeating “Keep my wife’s name out your fucking mouth” played on the speakers as the crowd screams along with it and the band continuing to play their instruments. Inviting Nikko Yamada of ‘68 onstage to play alongside Anthony Sonetti during a drum solo.

Josh Katz ran back onstage as the song continued — pulling himself onto the barricade and falling into the crowd to crowd surf.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLKsw7pSYlE

Ending their show with their Encores ‘We’re In Love’ and ‘30’.

“So get off your asses and take down the masses Socialists, fascists, the world is all plastic 'Cause everyone fakes it But they don't know shit about shit” - '30'

The Crowds Perspective

At the Badflower Concert in Peoria, Illinois, I had VIP/Meet and Greet and it had a Q & A Session—the Badflower guys are all so cool, down to earth, and charming! They are all so talented, too, so of course the show was wild and amazing! They are deserving of the recognition they have now and the success they will surely have more of in the future. - Rhonda Lindsay

So generous. Asked if they would sign my Badflower Heelys....no hesitation in saying yes! Talked to Josh, Alex, Joey, and Anthony like a normal conversation. I gave them each a rubber Duck like we put on Jeeps. I gave Anthony a Pittsburgh Steelers Terrible Towel that i got at a Steelers game. He even had it on his drum set when they came on to play. They were all very appreciative. You don't get that much anymore unfortunately. They didn't rush us, very patient. Honestly it was like hanging out with friends. - Terry Butcher

The show at Crusens was (fucking) magical! Badflower live is everything you expect and more, this was my second time seeing them. I had the best view from where they did the q&a and I had the best night of my life singing and dancing to the music that rips me apart and heals me at the same time! The venue staff and security were amazing, as well as those working the merch booth. The Drummer from 68 was also at the merch booth, much respect to what those guys are doing, give them a listen! - Tosha Followell