Mission To Sleep - FIRST CONCERT EVER

In this First Concert Ever segment, Rob Wu, vocalist of the alternative metal/post-hardcore band, Mission To Sleep, talks about the story of his first experience with live music. You can check out the story below:

It's November 1994. I had just turned 11—equal parts innocent, reckless, and insatiably curious. My world of music was limited to whatever my drum instructor (the late, great Dick DiCenso) introduced me to—Paul Simon, Diana Krall, Buddy Guy, Dave Brubeck. Great music, no doubt, but not exactly the kind that resonates with a kid. Then, fate intervened. My then-best friend’s older brother—cool by all possible standards, with a high ponytail and shaved sides à la Phil Anselmo—was forced to take us to a concert. Definitely not by choice, but because his parents likely threw down the dreaded ultimatum: "If you're going, your younger brother goes too." I was simply the lucky tagalong.

The venue? The Middle East Downstairs in Cambridge, MA—a staple location that would later become a full-circle moment when I played there myself. But that night, it was scary in the most exciting way. Even before the first note, the place reeked of beer and sweat. Then, the first band hit the stage: "Anger, hostility towards the opposition." A mash-up of hip-hop and hardcore, their vocalist was magnetic, commanding the crowd with visceral energy. I had never seen anything like it—Rob, meet Downset.

The second band had a frontman who exuded a president-like authority, holding the room in the palm of his hand. Each song felt like a sonic explosion. Enter Orange 9mm.

There was quite a pause after Orange 9mm. Though I was new to shows, I shared the same feeling of anticipation as everyone else in the room. The moment the headliner hit the stage, the floor shook beneath the jumping and moshing. The energy was electric, the decibels physically punishing, but I didn’t care. I also didn't realize how important this was at the time, but I saw a band with two guys who kind of looked like me—long-haired, skinny-bodied, (part-)Asian dudes. Welcome to my life, Deftones.

The band would go on to release Adrenaline in 1995 (and eventually launch their storied career), but that night in fucking Cambridge, MA, they were mine, and I was theirs. From that point on, I dove headfirst into the local heavy music scene, finding myself in the chaos of bands like Point 04 (Unearth), Converge, Cave-In, Humans Being, As the Sun Sets, Sam Black Church, and Overcast.

That first show wasn’t just an introduction—it was an awakening.

Keep up with Mission To Sleep on their website, Instagram, and Facebook.