Metallic guitar riffs and pounding bass filled DG’s Taphouse on Main Street on Nov. 7 as Screaming for Silence and Blameshift performed for a rowdy crowd.

Local artists Mighty Shady, an indie groove-rock band from Des Moines, and Stone Park Ritual, a metal band from Odebolt, Iowa, kicked off the show.

Blameshift, an alternative hard-rock band, is on tour with Screaming for Silence and are originally from Long Island, N.Y. There are three weeks left of the tour, and the bands will perform throughout the Midwest and end the tour in Pennsylvania.

The metal band Screaming for Silence, native to Omaha, Neb., headlined the show by performing a lot of new material for fans as well as performing some of their material from the late 1990s.

“Playing in Ames is like playing in my hometown for me,” said Screaming for Silence vocalist Zeb Christensen. “I always look forward to playing shows around here. 

Metal enthusiasts packed the small music venue and bar on Main Street. The intimacy of the show seemed to be what most people enjoyed about the show from musicians to fans alike.

“The people here are amazing. They’re really good fans,” said Casey Newsom, lead guitarist of Screaming for Silence.

All of the artists seemed to agree that DG’s provided a homey atmosphere that made them feel comfortable 

“The people have been amazing. The vibe is very welcoming,” said Blameshift frontwoman Jenny Mann. 

Blameshift surprised the crowd and put on a performance that was tough to follow. Mann brought a presence to the stage that could not be paralleled.

The group even had the crowd sing along for a birthday. Blameshift drummer Dan Scofield had the entire band and the group of fans sing “Happy Birthday” to him when they got on stage. He blew out the candles on a cake and received a nice helping of cake and frosting. He played the entire show with frosting covering his beard.

“I really enjoy spending time with friends and getting face-caked,” Scofield said.

The energy from the stage during Blameshift was prevalent and contagious for everyone in DG’s Taphouse. Opening band members greatly appreciated their performance. 

“I really enjoyed watching Blameshift. They took the night,” said Kody Dodge, drummer of Stone Park Ritual.

Mann worked hard to engage the crowd and had everyone in the venue on their feet jumping and screaming along.

Randi Abuhl thrived in the environment at DG’s Taphouse.

“This was my first experience at an actual rock concert, and I loved it. There are lots of awesome people here,” Abuhl said.