Dark concept band September Mourning mixes comic books with hard rock in Scranton visit on March 6
From a press release:
September Mourning is a dark culture fantasy that resides in the pages of a comic book and comes to life as a musical art project on stage. Both sides will be on display when the theatrical hard rock group comes to Scranton on Wednesday, March 6.
First, singer and co-creator Emily Lazar with sit down with her “Reaper” bandmates for a free meet and greet at Comics on the Green (307 N. Washington Ave., Scranton) from 6:30 p.m.-7 p.m., signing copies of the “September Mourning” comic books published by Top Cow/Image Comics and taking pictures with fans.
Later that night, they will perform just a few minutes away from the comic store at Stage West (301 N. Main Ave., Scranton), opening up for Los Angeles post-grunge rockers Smile Empty Soul, who they are currently traveling the country with on The Oblivion of Souls Tour. Maryland hard rock band Rise Among Rivals and Scranton’s own AlphaAudio will also open the show.
Doors open at 7 p.m., and the concert starts at 8 p.m. Tickets, which are $12 in advance or $15 the day of the show, are on sale now and can be purchased online via Eventbrite.
The music of September Mourning tells an epic tale of “heartbreak, loss, pain, joy, love, redemption but, most of all, courage” while the comic book chronicles her story. Produced by Sahaj Ticotin and Howard Benson, September Mourning revives the concept of rock star meets superhero. If Marilyn Manson and X-Men’s Storm had a kid, it would be September Mourning (Emily Lazar), who also cites influences as varied as Scranton metal band Motionless In White, Disturbed, and Muse.
“For me, the project is a story, a theatrical art piece,” Lazar explains. “Music is the backbone, but for this to work, it has to include the imagery and the narrative all symbiotically linked into the whole. Music taps into your innermost being. There’s something very intimate and personal about it.”
The character of September Mourning is a human-reaper hybrid who feels the need to give some human souls a second chance, and thus toys with Fate. Empowered by supernatural gifts with no memory of her past, she is driven to protect humanity from Fate and his Reapers. To expound on this narrative, Lazar is working with iconic comic book artist Marc Silvestri, who formed Top Cow Productions and is known for his work on “Uncanny X-Men,” “Wolverine,” “Cyberforce,” “The Darkness,” and “Witchblade.” Together, they are creating the story of September Mourning in graphic form to accompany and enhance the musical message.
Having performed at large festivals like Rock on the Range, Download Festival, and Aftershock and shared the stage with acts like Marilyn Manson and Avatar, September Mourning has already built up an impressive fan base, which Lazar calls her “Children of Fate,” constantly encouraging them to have “the courage to embrace their passion… to allow yourself to follow your heart and not be a slave to your fears. To know that the only boundaries that exist in our lives are the ones we allow.” They have also performed at pop culture events like Comicpalooza, Atlantic City Boardwalk Con, Anime Midwest, and Mechacon.
Following up 2015’s “Volume I,” the band’s latest full-length album, “Volume II,” was released on July 29, 2016 via Sumerian Records. The songs, written by Lazar, give more depth and insight into September, revealing her innermost thoughts and feelings. On stage, she also personifies the character of September, accompanied by her band of Reapers.
The music video for their newest single, “Glass Animals,” came out on Dec. 26, 2018
“‘Glass Animals’ is about the fragmented soul. It’s about the realization that we are all broken. Something or someone has broken us and within that broken state we ultimately find the strength to survive. Musically, it’s a little bit of a tribute to one of our favorite bands – Deftones,” Lazar explains.
“The song ties into the comic book as well. Hannah is a broken soul who, through the help of September and Claire, finds the strength to face her personal demons and live again.”
Bestselling writers David Hine, Mariah McCourt (editor of “Emily the Strange,” “The Last Unicorn”), and Lazar team up with artist Tina Valentino to tell the story in issues 1-4 of the ongoing series. First launched through Kickstarter, the comics will be collected in a trade paperback, “September Mourning: The Complete Collection,” set for release on April 9:
In a world where Reapers prey on the souls of the living, imprisoning them in the shadow-land of Mortem, there is one last hope for humanity. Her name is September Mourning. Half human, half Reaper, she takes the souls of the wicked so the innocent can live again. September has joined forces with a woman who was murdered and restored to life, and a young blind girl who sees only the dead. Together, as The Trinity, they set out to fulfill a prophecy that will finally free all the lost souls who are trapped in Mortem.
In conjunction with this graphic novel, September Mourning will continue to produce new music on Sumerian Records.
