Fame On Fire
Article by Hannah Baez
Fame on Fire, the Florida-based rock band known for blending post-hardcore, metal, and pop, brought their Death Card Tour to the Amsterdam Bar and Hall in St. Paul. Fans of all ages were eagerly crowding into the packed bar before the show started. Despite lead singer Bryan Kuznitz performing on crutches due to a torn ACL, the band pulled off an unforgettable show that didn’t miss a step.
Archetypes Collide opened the night with a high-energy set full of heavy riffs and catchy choruses. Their strong performance had the crowd moving, and set the stage perfectly for the rest of the show. Next up was Holocene, who wasted no time capturing the crowd’s attention. Their set opened with ‘Just Won’t Die’ and moved smoothly through tracks such as ‘Glory Days’ and ‘When Demons Come to Life.’ They impressed with a cover of Sam Smith’s ‘Unholy,’ adding a dark rock edge to make it entirely their own. Halocene is widely known for their rendition of ‘Unholy’ as it went viral on TikTok in 2022. Later, their rendition of ‘The Kill (Bury Me)’ by Thirty Seconds to Mars brought the crowd together in a loud, collective sing-along.
By the time Fame on Fire took the stage, the crowd was fired up and ready. The band’s performance was structured around five “chapters,” reflecting themes from their album The Death Card. Each chapter brought a shift in mood and visuals, enhanced by a dynamic LED display and heavy use of fog to give the set a dramatic, cinematic feel.
Opening with ‘No Tomorrow (The Death Card),’ the band came out swinging. Kuznitz stood tall, and gave a heartfelt speech early in the set: “People asked if I wanted to cancel the tour because of it, and although this injury really sucks, I said ‘hell no, we’re doing this tour!” It was truly incredible to witness the dedication, and the show was not impacted in the least. Kuznitz was interacting with fans, and encouraged fans to jump around as much as they could since he was not able to. The band powered through a set filled with fan favorites including ‘Nothing Left (The Fool),’ ‘Nightmare (The Devil),’ ‘Ketamine,’ and ‘Chains (The Tower).’ Their mix of aggression and vulnerability resonated deeply, especially during tracks like ‘Her Eyes’ and ‘Desire (The Moon).’ Their cover of Halsey’s ‘Without Me’ proved their skill at blending genres.
Despite a serious injury, Fame on Fire delivered a full-force, visually stunning show. Their resilience and passion made for a memorable night in St. Paul, and they earned serious respect for staying committed to their fans and the tour.
Amsterdam Bar & Hall in Saint Paul, MN on May 5, 2025
Photos by Hannah Baez
