The innovative musicianship that Coheed and Cambria brings to
the table fuses sounds from progressive rock, emo and hardcore.
Their remarkable musical style is as profound in person as it is on
their albums. Nearly as impressive were the bands that were
selected to fill the opening slots on the tour.
- Music Reviews
- Music Reviews
- Music Reviews
Setting the pace for the night was the classically fueled band 3
from Woodstock, New York. Joey Eppard and his acoustic guitar
filled the club with finger-picked rhythms and siren-like vocals
while the rest of the group mixed in sounds reminiscent metal bands
such as Iron Maiden. Solos from vocalist Eppard, percussionist Joe
Stroe and drummer Chris Gartmann were equally as visually stunning
as they were musically. The two percussionists played each others
drums muting cymbals in a choreographed performance.
Soon to follow was Underoath, another melting pot of sounds
ranging from metal to emo. Although their new album seems to step
in a slightly more mellow direction, their stage show seems to
reflect otherwise. Bassist Grant Brandell explains “We got a
new guitarist and it was like having a rock guitarist try to write
a metal record.” Sweat poured from their faces as their
bodies and instruments flew across the stage, while screams and
vocal melodies resonated throughout the packed venue. Singer
Spencer Chamberlain maintained a close vibe with the crowd walking
out onto speakers to reach out to the fans during songs. For a band
that stood out from the other bands, they were received with open
arms, many of which were accompanied with screaming mouths.
The crowd grew anxious in the minutes preceding the entry of the
Coheed and Cambria. Lights dimmed in the cathedral-style club and
spotlights flashed their logo to heighten the anticipation. An
energy packed set with crowd favorites made for an enjoyable
experience, however the levels on the guitars were inconsistent and
hindered the flow and power of the songs. Pulling a joke from the
recent release, “Team America: World Police,” they kept
a lot of the crowd laughing during the down times of their set.
Despite some faults by the sound technician the Geddy Lee-singing
of Claudio Sanchez was near flawless and the band’s playing
was a tight as the crowd was in tune.
The genre-bending show proved to be an auditory treat that would
make their predecessors blush, and newcomers bow down in
astonishment.