Music Existence Because of Music, We Exist
Still buzzing from the success of their latest studio album The Color Before the Sun, Coheed and Cambria wrapped up an equally successful 6-week tour last weekend with a sold out show at New Jersey’s Starland Ballroom.
Despite the exhilarated shouts and chants from the crowd leading up to the scheduled set time, Coheed and Cambria effortlessly commanded the room from the moment frontman Claudio Sanchez and guitarist Travis Stever took the blacked out stage. Leading the intro solely on acoustic guitars and drastically back lit, the duo eased into an enthralling performance of “Ghost.” The quiet beginning was deceptive, however, as the band wasted no time laying into the bombastic track “In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3.” It was just like the switch was thrown, and the energy soared to 110% within the span of seconds and stayed that way through the end of the night.
While clearly favoring tracks off The Color Before the Sun, Coheed worked off a pretty balanced setlist (see below), including a phenomenal cover of Nirvana’s “Drain You” in collaboration with Saves The Day, to the fan-favorite “Welcome Home,” which wrapped up the night with a bang.
There’s just something about the energy of a live show that cannot be reproduced in the studio, and Coheed’s performance is an all too perfect example of that. It being my first time experiencing them live, I was completely blown away by the commanding presence of the band on stage; by the frenzied reciprocation of the audience. Trapped in the photo pit for those first couple of songs in between clashing energies was electric. The band is currently taking a much deserved break from touring right now, but next time they make it out to a city near you, be sure to be there. It’s one hell of a good time.
Setlist:
01. Ghost
02. In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3
03. Blood Red Summer
04. Island
05. Everything Evil
06. Key Entity Extraction V: Sentry the Defiant
07. A Favor House Atlantic
08. Eraser
09. Here to Mars
10. The Crowing
11. Delirium Trigger
12. Ten Speed (Of God’s Blood and Burial)
13. Peace to the Mountain
Encore:
14. You Got Spirit, Kid
15. Drain You (Nirvana cover)
16. Welcome Home
