Break Down of Pierce The Veil’s Live ‘Misadventures’ Show in Adelaide
On August 19, I was lucky enough to attend Pierce The Veil’s live show at Thebarton Theatre which was their first here since Soundwave 2013. I cannot begin to tell you how excited I was, especially since I was in love with their latest release, Misadventures (Record Review>http://breakingdownthebeat.tumblr.com/post/148785991901/break-down-of-pierce-the-veils-record). As a side note though, I have to say that I was absolutely disgusted with the amount of fans that held their phone in the air for the entire show. You are there to see PIERCE THE VEIL, not your IPHONE!
Anyhow, I began my night as any fan would. I lined up in the cold and rain outside of Thebarton Theatre for a good hour before the doors opened at 6:30pm. Inside the pit before the show commenced, the energy was noticeable. Everyone had waited long enough for this very anticipated show from PTV after the eccentric, emotionally roller-coaster of what was their last set here in 2013. PTV made it clear to everyone at Soundwave 2013 that they were not joking around when it comes to live performance and it will not disappoint anyone! The only thing that could be disappointing about this show was the first opening band, Storm The Sky.
Storm The Sky, from Melbourne, have made a name for themselves ever since they started back in 2011 but particularly left an indent in the music industry after releasing their 2015 record, Permanence. Sadly though, after a change of members in the band, the quality of music and where the direction of sound was heading has not lived up to the hype that most fans were waiting for. The live adaptation of STS 2016 release, Sin Will Find You, did not fuel the fire that was PTV’s fans. On top of this, they only played one song from Permanence which did live up to the standards of STS fans that night. It had a dead pit and didn’t attract the attention that I expected the band would’ve. This was not the start of the show for me and can imagine that much of the crowd in Adelaide could agree.
Though, I thankfully do not have to say this for the next following supporting acts as I was more than pleased with how they were able to take over and rev up the audience. Beartooth, all the way from Columbous, Ohio, started the first official circle pit of the night. A lot heavier than PTV’s style but the right lyrics and sound to finally begin. I did not know Beartooth before this night but I sure will remember them now. Their thirty minute set was full of crowd surfing, flying bodies and sweaty moshing as they picked up the pace and really let the crowd see who the band truly was, no holding back here. They played a perfect mix of new content from their 2016 release, Aggression as well as their 2015 record, Disgusting. From their first song The Lines which set the tone for the next seven songs all the way to the last song Body Bag, they gave it their all. I now know I have ‘One life, one decision’, as those lyrics were drummed into my head by the frontman and the rest of the audience.
Silverstein were the final supporting act of the night and it was the most careless amount fun of had in a pit for a long time. I did not take any particular time in noting their setlist or analysing their set. All I know is that they had a stage presence enough for me and my best friend to have the time of our lives moshing and head-banging along to whatever they had to offer. I found that Silverstein were very experienced in handling a crowd. They knew the stage well, they knew heavy music well and they were overall, very good at being a band. Perhaps this has something to do with being the ‘oldest’ band there, forming in 2000. I took away from this set a sore neck that would last me the entire weekend from head-banging.
By 9:45pm, the stage had changed, crowd had tripled in size and everyone was tirelessly eager to see PTV. I could not, for a moment, contain the emotions that completely overtook me during the intro before the music had even started. I was so happy that I wore waterproof mascara and set my face because shit was about to go down! Just as I heard on the CD in my car, Dive In began playing; my skin grew goose bumps and my spin shivered. I bounced on the tops of my feet waiting for the chorus to start. I screamed the lyrics till my throat cut out and let the waterworks start as I was overwhelmed with every part of the song. I’d waited for this moment for so long that I practically sobbed the lyrics. It was the opening that I had imagined in my mind since the moment I had heard Dive In for the very the first time.
Talking about emotional introductions, Caraphernelia was PTV’s second song of the night and if I hadn’t shed enough tears in the first song, then I certainly did now. I did not give a single care to the people around me, I had the biggest sook in public EVER! Personally, I connect with this song more than any other that they have ever written. I poured every ounce of sorrow and sadness into my voice and screamed those lyrics with no shame. I’m sure that everyone in the crowd could agree that it was an emotional experience for everyone. At times, the music died down and PTV stopped singing, letting the fans voices overtake the theatre and sing back to them the poetry that they had once written for us. That was truly something to remember.
Texas is Forever and The Divine Zero followed, turning the crowd into jumping and moshing lunatics as audience participation had reached its peak. Even though there were a handful of fans that didn’t enjoy their latest release, it’s easy to say that that feeling washed away after hearing these two beauties live. It was intense and full on in a way that everyone was collectively enjoying the show for what it was in these moments.
Things took a turn though when PTV brought up a very lucky fan from the crowd, how then was placed on a seat on the stage where Vic Fuentes (frontman) got on one knee and serenaded the young girl to one of their most famous love songs ever, Bulletproof Love. Overwhelmed and crying, the girl filmed Vic as the crowd watched in awe, pounding out those lyrics as everyone watched on. Floral & Fading soon followed. Personally, I find that Floral & Fading is almost the Misadventures version of Bulletproof Love. Different lyrics, sound and meaning but still classic PTV.
Following the love song trend, PTV wowed the crowd when they played an original cult favourite that had never been played on any other tour before. Kissing In Cars, an acoustic ballad that was broken down on stage, stripped back of everything punk just to build it all back up again with the dramatic and ever so catchy Hell Above and Bulls In The Bronx. This is probably the time when the crowd was most alive as these were and will always be some of PTV’s biggest hits as a band. Diving back down in love songs and slow, sob songs, PTV chucked in another Colldie with The Sky favourite, Stained Glass Eyes and Colourful Tears followed by what would be one of PTV’s most heartfelt song ever, Hold On Till May. This is where they announced that this would the last song of the night. Everything about it was perfect; the pink lights, the waving hands and every person in the theatre singing the lyric ‘Darling, you’ll be okay’.
Though, fortunately enough, this was not the end as the theatre was covered in darkness and the audience chanted ‘ONE MORE SONG!”. It was then that PTV took one final walk on stage, trashing out the single Circles before energetically finishing with the famous song King For A Day. Confetti completely littered the theatre as everyone screamed, jumped, moshed and collectively made the night.
Once again, Pierce The Veil have proven to me, and I suppose the rest of Adelaide too, that they are not a force to be reckoned with in the pop-punk, mexicore, metal world. They are a band that make blood pump and voice boxes break. This is hands down ONE OF THE BEST LIVE SHOW’S I HAVE EVER BEEN TO.
