‘Blood on the Dance Floor’ Vocalist Dahvie Vanity encourages the crowd to surround him during last night’s show at the Radioactive Events Center in downtown Kittanning. This is the fourth show on the band’s current nationwide tour.
by Jonathan Weaver
Local and regional youth welcomed “Blood on the Dance Floor” and two other singers to Radioactive Events Center in downtown Kittanning last night.
‘Blood’s (Jesus) Dahvie Torres, 31 (known also as Dahvie Vanity) and Christopher Mongillo founded the group in 2007.
“I met him through clubs and performing together, and we just really hit it off,” Torres said. “It was like dynamite.”
Even though Mongillo left the group in 2008, Torres continues to tour the country with fellow singer Jayy Von Monroe, and a band consisting of guitar, bass, violin and drums.
“I’m here to unite people with music and just send good vibes to everyone. We’re here to celebrate life – it’s about celebration,” Torres said.
Born in Fort Bragg, North Carolina (where both his parents served in the U.S. Army), Torres was raised in Orlando, Florida but now is a resident of San Diego, California.
“My parents are my No. 1 fans – my mom wears a T-shirt, my dad wears a shirt. They respect,” Torres said. “My parents love what I do – they really support me.
“I think at first they didn’t really weren’t supportive of it because I was a rebellious young teenager but when they see the passion and the heart you put into what (I) do and how it affects so many people in a positive way, how can you deny the overwhelmness of goodness?”
He also thanked his fans from around the country, including those that came to Kittanning last night.
Britney Beck, 17, of Dubois was at her first ‘Blood’ concert with her friends Caramin Mia and Katy Goughenour – both 17 – and Brittany Kirkwood, 18 – all of Kittanning.
Dahvie Vanity (whose parents were from Puerto Rico and his real name is Jesus Dahvie Torres) also spent a significant amount of time before and after the show with his fans taking photos and signing autographs.
Mia and Goughenour have been to Radioactive Events Center before, and Goughenour has been a fan of the band for about four years.
Ashton Johns, 13 of Ford City came to the show with cousin Boe Johns, of Kittanning.
Boe was at two other ‘Blood’ concerts in Pittsburgh and also met Torres.
“The first time meeting him, it was pretty exciting because they were my favorite band,” Boe said. “That’s all I used to listen to.”
Boe is also hoping to sing in a band.
Torres has been a singer since 2011, but was first inspired to rap electronic music by 1980’s Club Kids personalities and electropop, including Michael Alig and James St. James.
After nearly 10 years, Mongillo returned to record with ‘Blood on the Dance Floor’ recently, including the band’s recent single ‘Safe Word.’
Events Center Co-Founder Mark Gibson didn’t know what to expect before the show, but said he was impressed by ‘Blood’s fan loyalty before and after the main performance.
During the next three weeks, ‘Blood,’ ‘Player vs. Environment’ and Eryn Woods will play in 20 cities.