Viral post-hardcore band I Prevail to play Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre on March 26
From a press release:
It was announced today that post-hardcore band I Prevail will visit the F.M. Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre, performing in the Chandelier Lobby on Thursday, March 26 at 8 p.m. with Chasing Safety and Too Close to Touch.
Tickets go on sale this Friday, March 6 at 10 a.m., and will be available through the Kirby Center box office, online at kirbycenter.org, and charge by phone at 570-826-1100. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 day of show, plus fees.
Unsigned Detroit-based band I Prevail has taken the world by storm. Out of nowhere, they have become a viral sensation with their recording of Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space” fueling a hurricane of interest and an army of fans. Their independently released debut EP, “Heart vs. Mind,” was issued in December and in mere months has risen to No. 1 on the iTunes Rock Album chart, fueled by the cover song hitting No. 1 on the iTunes Rock Singles chart. In mid-February, the Associated Press reported that I Prevail’s version of “Blank Space” was charted as the seventh most viral track on Spotify globally, based on the number of people who shared the performance divided by the number who listened to it. This encompassed the period from Jan. 26-Feb. 1. Since being posted, the accompanying video has been viewed over five million times on YouTube:
The avalanche of exposure truly has become a viral sensation, with the band emerging from obscurity almost instantaneously. Although the band members have a keen sense of the value of covers delivering a new audience, no one foresaw the speed at which this story took hold. They all felt as though they were onto something special when writing the arrangement, but optimistic projections were goals of reaching 5,000-10,000 views.
Vocalist Brian Burkheiser shares, “If you told me that two months after releasing the cover we would have almost five million views on YouTube, I would have called you crazy. It’s like we are on this roller coaster that just hasn’t declined yet. Every day comes with something new and exciting, and this cover has been a huge part of that.”
Vocalist Eric Vanlerberghe offers, “The best way I can describe it is that it is going on three months and I’m still waiting to wake up from this dream. I’m starting to wonder if I’m comatose.”
This is a pure example where a star has emerged from the web and is taking firm hold of the terrestrial realm. With fans waiting anxiously, the band has announced a coast-to-coast tour featuring dozens of headlining dates alongside a support leg with Amaranthe.
I Prevail will hit Buffalo and New York City on March 23 and 24, respectively, before stopping in Wilkes-Barre, and they will also play the Chameleon Club in Lancaster on March 29.
