Greg Puciato @ The Underground Charlotte, NC 5-26-23

Greg Puciato @The Underground Charlotte, NC 5-26-23

Most people will know Greg Puciato from his time in the legendary mathcore band the Dillinger Escape Plan, but he is also an accomplished solo artist as well. Greg has recently embarked on his very first solo tour in support of his two solo albums, ‘Child Soldier: Creator of God’ released in 2020, and 2022’s ‘Mirrorcell.’ Boasting a vocal range of over four octaves, Puciato is known not only for his killer pipes but also for his explosive stage presence. Over the years, I’ve only had the opportunity to see him perform once at a festival with the Dillinger Escape Plan and it was definitely off the charts. When I found out his tour was making a stop right here in Charlotte at The Underground, I knew I had to check it out. 

As soon as the lights went down, the energy level in the venue increased tenfold. Everyone was primed and ready because it was about to go down. A single fog machine blew thick, plumes of smoke across the middle of the stage amidst the dim lighting. You could barely see the drumkit at the rear of the stage. As the band members took their places on stage, the crowd roared in appreciation and in anticipation. Once Greg made his way to the center of the stage, fans were jumping up and down at the barricade as Puciato kicked off his set at a furious pace. The strobes were blinding as he grabbed his microphone cable, swinging it around as he crouched down before springing back up. “Reality Spiral” was full-on, out of control and everyone was loving it. Greg’s solo music is an interesting blend with everything from metalcore to industrial thrown into the mix. The band was performing as a tightly knit unit, but it was Puciato that commanded the attention. He is a whirlwind of energy running from one end of the stage to the other, pointing at the fans, and leaning over the edge of the stage to reach out towards the audience. It was clear that he was having the time of his life up there and everyone responded in kind, feeding off each other’s energy as the night progressed. After a solid set that included tunes from both of his solo albums, Puciato closed out the evening with a cover of the Alice In Chains song “Them Bones” during which he climbed up on the barricade and out to the crowd, holding onto fan’s hands for support. It was an epic way to end the night.

If you have the opportunity to check out Greg on tour, please do. In the intimate setting of The Underground, Puciato displayed a passion for his craft that is unsurpassed. 

Set List:

 

Reality Spiral

Do You Need Me To Remind You?

Absence as a Presence

Fire for Water

Don’t Wanna Deal

No More Lives to Go

Deep Set

Never Wanted That

Lowered

A Pair of Questions

Evacuation

Creator of God

September City

Them Bones (Alice In Chains Cover)

We would like to thank Monica Seide-Evenson from Speakeasy PR for the credentials to review the show.