Concert Review: Icon For Hire Celebrates Scripted's 15th Anniversary at Minneapolis' Fine Line

6 hours ago

3 min read

Fine Line Music Cafe in Minneapolis, MN welcomed a packed crowd for Icon For Hire's Scripted 15th Anniversary Tour, a celebration of the band's breakthrough album. Supported by Lauren Babic and Elijah, the evening offered a mix of high-energy metalcore, modern alternative rock, and a healthy dose of nostalgia.

Lauren Babic

Opening the night was Lauren Babic, who immediately won over the Minneapolis crowd with an energetic and confident performance. From the moment she launched into "Let It Die," her commanding stage presence kept attention locked on the stage.

Babic's set balanced songs from her previous EP Too Much and Never Enough with a glimpse into the future, as she debuted unreleased tracks "No New Friends" and "Bloodbath."

The biggest reaction of her set came during her heavy cover of Britney Spears' "Toxic." The unexpected choice proved to be a perfect fit, generating loud singalongs while highlighting Babic's versatility as a vocalist. Combined with tracks like "Breathe You In," "Sanctuary," and "Why," her performance established a high standard that the rest of the night's lineup would have to meet.

Elijah

Elijah followed with a performance that clearly resonated with much of the audience. Songs like "stranger," and "virus," kept the crowd moving, and audience participation remained high throughout the set.

His energy on stage was undeniable, and fans enthusiastically responded to nearly every track. However, one element that stood out was the noticeable use of live vocal processing and autotune effects. While the stylistic choice is part of Elijah's modern sound, it occasionally felt overpowering in the live setting and made it harder to fully connect with the performance on a personal level.

That said, the audience appeared fully invested from start to finish, and the response throughout the set demonstrated why Elijah continues to build a dedicated following.

Icon For Hire

When Icon For Hire took the stage, fans were met with an unexpected twist for the evening. Vocalist Ariel Bloomer revealed that she had lost her voice and was going to need a lot of audience participation through the night. Something that was really cool to see, is rather than canceling the show or delivering a watered-down performance, Ariel had a different plan in mind and created an unforgettable experience for everyone in attendance.

Throughout the night, Ariel invited fans onstage to join the band onstage to help sing. What could have been a disappointing situation instead became one of the most heartwarming and engaging aspects of the evening. Each fan appearance was met with cheers from the crowd, creating genuine moments of connection between the band and the audience.

More importantly, Ariel never appeared disengaged. Despite the vocal limitations, she gave everything she had to the performance, maintaining the energy, passion, and emotional intensity that fans have come to expect from Icon For Hire.

The anniversary set included playing Scripted in its entirety, plus other fan favorites like "Rock and Roll Thugs," "Pulse" and "Venom."

What stood out most wasn't the vocal challenge itself, but how Ariel chose to handle it. Instead of canceling the show, she adapted, leaned on her fans, and turned a difficult situation into something special. Those fans who were invited onstage received a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and everyone in the room witnessed a performance that felt authentic, vulnerable, and uniquely memorable.

The Scripted 15th Anniversary Tour stop at the Fine Line proved that great live music isn't always about perfection. Lauren Babic delivered a phenomenal opening set, Elijah kept the crowd energized throughout his performance, and Icon For Hire closed the night by demonstrating exactly why they have maintained such a devoted fanbase for 15 years.

Despite Ariel’s vocal struggles, the band's willingness to adapt created some of the most memorable moments of the evening. Icon For Hire transformed it into a celebration of community between artist and audience. In the end, Minneapolis didn't just get an anniversary performance of Scripted; they got a one-of-a-kind experience that fans will be talking about long after the tour ends.