Mel Torres

I played this venue for years of my life. Open for many sold out shows, but this show hit a little different. Having my band name on the top of this banner selling out a show we got asked seven days prior to play and the pressure of not having another chance to do this ever again still sits with me. Words can’t describe the amount of gratitude I have to this venue to this people who have supported me and the people who have given me a chance every single time I set foot on this stage. I’ve lived for these moments every day of my life, and it will never feel exactly the same knowing that I can never play here again.

Every time I imagined a show, I imagine chain reaction. When I dreamed big, I imagined the House of Blues or The Glass House (even though I played those venues before) nothing will feel exactly as Home as Chain Reaction.

Thanks to Chain Reaction I was able to have a career in creating content in the music industry, even at some point paying for my parents house, and then supporting myself when I moved. I played this venue countless times, but nothing will feel as definitive as this. My endless gratitude goes out to, the staff at Chain Reaction, the promoters who booked me, and if you’re every person who’s ever bought a ticket, helped me load in gear, stood with me during my anxiety attacks and panic attacks during set up and tear down, and the simple moments after the show at Dennys.

I can only hope that a place like this will exist for someone like me when I was in high school. Thank you for being my home on and off stage.

Last off thank you to: .visuals JT we couldn’t have done this without you.

Chain Reaction Forever

Turns out Instagram’s character limit cannot contain my thoughts and feelings on . So I’ll say what I can here. And y’all can read the rest in the post.

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I’ve spent years of my life at Chain Reaction, and I’m heartbroken to know that this Friday will be the last time I take the stage there. Since 8th grade, everyone from my high school said that if I could make it at this venue, I had “MADE” it in the music industry. I knew back then I was just a little kid with big dreams. I remember getting into fights with my parents, hopping on my skateboard and riding to Chain Reaction to end up just catching a show of bands I’ve never heard of and then fell in love with, Burning Tree Project, Panama, The Messenger, whose members are now This Wild Life, The Sound Archives ( whose members are now House of Protection or Night Verse.), No Bragging Rights, I am Ghost, Halifax, I could name an endless list.

I quickly started regularly playing shows at Chain as far back as 2008 with my band Emerging form Below. The lineup was: Emerging from Below, The Open House Collective, Quiet on the Western Front, The Kolour of Karma, Birds in the City of Hollywood, Nameless, Fighting Invisible Tigers on a Saturday, October 25, 2008. The room was packed for a local show, and to be honest, I’ve been riding that high since.
Thanks to Chain Reaction, I had the pleasure of opening for Emery, Daphney Loves Derby, And The Millionaires as a high schooler. This gave me the skills to dedicate my life to music.

I remember when this venue was pink.
I remember when Off the Chain was still here.
I remember buying my second drumset here.
I remember emotionally breaking down during No Bragging Rights, The Color Morale, and Letlive.
I remember playing this room sold out multiple times.
And I will never forget.

Thank you, Chain Reaction, and everyone who has ever worked here.
Your legacy will never be forgotten.

PS F**k Pretenious Over Priced Half-Vacant Apartment Complexes. This venue saved more lives than you could ever house.