Coheed and Cambria w/ The Dear Hunter
Showbox, Seattle, WA
04.11.17
Hundreds of people lined up eagerly outside the Seattle’s Showbox, wrapping around three city blocks, despite the rain, because Coheed and Cambria were in town. They were here to start their “Neverender GAIBSIV Tour,” and play their hit third album, Good Apollo, I’m Burning Star IV: From Fear Through The Eyes of Madness, from front to back. Their first time playing this album in its entirety on a full US tour, it was understandable that fans were excited to get inside.
Opening up for C&C were The Dear Hunter, with a 45-minute set. Each song had a slow build up to the meat of the track, and a slow solo breakdown before reaching the chorus. By taking the long route, the band explored each artist’s unique nuances. The energy from the crowd peaked and valleyed similarly to the songs—mellow in the breakdown and energized by the end.
The stage lights flickered a little as the house lights went down and the opening track of Good Apollo, “Keeping The Blade,” played with the stage empty. A mix of strings and light percussion began as three on-stage panels displayed sci-fi imagery inspired by the album. Lead singer Claudio Sanchez walked on stage alone with his acoustic guitar and started “Always & Never.” The beautiful, soft acoustic song showcased Sanchez’s vocals in a way not often utilized with their faster-paced experimental metal rock.
After a slow start with two soft songs, the show picked up as the rest of the band members joined Sanchez on stage. Exchanging his acoustic guitar for his white double-neck, Sanchez got right into “Welcome Home.” A fire lit in the crowd’s souls hearing the most well know and cherished song by Coheed, usually saved as one of the final songs of their concerts. Each member had so much energy to put into this 6-minute epic performance. Sanchez gave it all with the guitar, and in true rock star glory played the final solo of the song with the guitar behind his head. From this moment to the end they kept their foot on the gas pedal.
The smaller, intimate stage at the Showbox brought the fans closer to the band. During “Ten Speed (Of God’s Blood & Burial)” crowd surfers nearly touched the band. The music was getting to the fans in the best way possible and everyone was full of energy. Coheed rarely took any breaks to talk to the crowd in the early parts of show. They just played one great song after another including “Wake Up” and “The Suffering.”
The exclusive part about seeing a band play a full album front to back is getting to see them play lesser known B-sides to the album that usually fall away as the original album cycles. The crowd was blessed with seeing them play “From Fear Through The Eyes if Madness” and “Fuel for the Feeding End,” before they finished with “The Final Cut.” It was basically a prolonged jam session where lead guitarist, Travis Stever, and Sanchez went back and forth in a remarkable solo battle.
They came back on stage after finishing the album for an encore—anything was up for grabs. With five other outstanding albums and just a few songs left to play, the crowd was in suspense. Before the tour kicked off, Cohered had Instagrammed a photo saying, “Encore songs still up for debate,” eluding to the wide range they have to choose from and that each night would play out differently. Seattle lucked out with an excellent list of encore songs including “Island,” “Delirium Trigger,” and ending with the epic battle song “In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth:3.” If the opening night of this “Neverender GAIBSIV Tour” was an indication, it would be a tour we’d never want to end.
Coheed & Cambria
The Deer Hunter
