Imagine if you could get all your Sci-fi needs met an in epic performance. On Friday night, July 15,
people gathered at 713 Music Hall in Houston for Prog-Metal concept band Coheed And
Cambria and they gave all that and so much more!
Coheed and Cambria stopped in Houston in support of their latest and 10th studio album and
chapter of their Sci-fi Concept story “Vaxis II: A Window of the Waking Mind” with support from
Mothica and Alkaline Trio.
As the stage lights hit the stage, the stage set up was an epic display of props and lights, with
the band’s iconic symbol, “The Keywork” placed dead center in front of the drummers, Josh
Eppards, drum kit. Behind the band’s gear, there was a giant display props that portrayed a
Dragonfly backing the band as they walked on stage to the intro track of the band’s newest
album.
The band opens with a powerful track “The Gutter” and one notable thing one gets from Coheed
fans is that they know every lyric. Band frontman, Claudio Sanchez, has an immense talent for
writing songs that are perfect for live performances. With plenty of great crowd chant moments,
it was immediately noticeable that everyone in the room was performing together.
Claudio wasn’t much of a talker, in his words, in the beginning of the bands career but he
mentioned it being the bands 20th anniversary year and how much everyone has grown
together.
The set list was, in my opinion, an amazing mix of old favorites from past albums such as,
Everything Evil, A Favor House Atlantic, etc but also a great choice of new songs from the last
album. One particular track this tour, A Disappearing Act, was a fan favorite it seemed but had
an interruption at the start. “Hey what’s going on back there?!” Claudio stops the song about 25
seconds in noticing a pair of people beginning to fight. Once everything cleared the didn’t
hesitate to start the song again, and honestly it felt better then the first time around, more
intense.
At one point in the evening Claudio revealed a new mask, a character out of the story,
Candelaria. Explaining a little bit of the character and joking of the resemblance out of Netflix hit,
Stranger Things. “I guess it kind of does look like something out of the Upside Down world” as
the crowd laughs.
The energy these guys bring to their performance is unlike anything I have experienced in a live
setting. From the incredible bass lines bassist, Zach Cooper, contributes to the bands sound
and drummer Josh Eppard’s incredible ability for unique beats and drum fills, all tied perfectly with the
chemistry guitarists Claudio and Travis Stever have on stage. It’s no surprise they’ve developed a sort
of cult following fan base that packed the venue that night. Whether you are a fan of the music
aspect or a fan that has dug deeper into the world of Coheed And Cambria, their concerts are
something if you have a chance to experience, you should jump on that spaceship.
About Author
