In a few minutes, I was going to get a call from Jesse Leach of Killswitch Engage.

I had the press releases announcing the end of Howard Jones’ nine year run as frontman for the Massachusetts metal band and the statement revealing that Killswitch Engage would embark on the “Alive or Just Breathing” 10th Anniversary Tour with old friend and vocalist Leach joining them.

My questions were ready, but the call never came. Life (and the occasional interview) doesn’t always happen the way we plan it.

I never spoke with Leach, the man who wrote and recorded the lyrics for “Alive or Just Breathing” , but I did get to see Adam D and the rest of the band rock out Vinyl Music Hall (the band played “Alive or Just Breathing” in its entirety followed by a second set),  while Leach sang some of my Killswitch Engage favorites including “Last Serenade.”

– Michael L. Smith

Opening bands for the show were Springfield, MA band Shadows Fall and Acaro from Boston.