PIERCE THE VEIL / LETLIVE. | LIVE REVIEW
Great Hall, Cardiff University Students Union, Fri 25 Nov
Pierce The Veil’s newest album Misadventures was released this May, receiving positive feedback from their many international fans. It was not all that surprising, then, to hear that the pop-punk Californians would be touring extensively later this year, bringing the songs they toiled over to those who have supported them throughout their career.
The UK and Ireland tour opened in Cardiff’s Students Union; some fans, committed to making the front row, sat outside from 3pm to suffer the jagged wrath of the ice winds. Inside, a large section of the stage was closed off with an enormous black drape, restricting much movement for support acts Creeper and Letlive. – Jason Butler, frontman of the latter band, almost slipped into the photo pit multiple times and production lacked the wow factor. Luckily, though, these two bands are anything but monotonous on record or on stage.
Creeper came out in their matching embroidered leather jackets and raced into VCR. Will Gould’s black hair was intensified with the lack of lighting, making his features very difficult to catch, but his vocals remained enjoyable and musically infectious with the band’s brand of punk rock and ‘horror rock’. Arms were raised for the sextet and their short set was received very well by everyone present.
The dynamite frontman of Letlive has never fully understood the word ‘restriction’ and tonight was no exception. Walking out to hollers and whoops, Butler began by peppering the front few rows with water and then stomping from left to right across the platform. Loniel Robinson was a delight to witness, grinning through every sharp snare drum roll and hi-hat slap, while Ryan Jay Johnson swayed into his own cool bassist euphoria. The singer quickly made his way to the centre of the room, embracing punters he passed along the way. For Muther, a fantastic track from 2010’s Fake History, Creeper’s Hannah Greenwood came out to take the second vocal role and finish up on their poignant Good Mourning, America on the mistreatment of American citizens of colour by the authorities.
After two sets of working with a small space, the front drape was finally ready to drop and with its descent came Pierce The Veil, exiting from a spaceship wreck to deafening cries. Soon after, a confetti fan sent red flakes of paper cascading down as bursts of deep blue scanned the stage. The four Americans were vibrant and energetic, Tony Perry all straight-faced determination and Jaime Preciado leaping from step to stage. Kissing In Cars brought the set down for a not-so-intimate acoustic experience and a guest Letlive. vocal sport for Tangled In The Great Escape was quite a thing to see.
Although the in-your-face pop-punk offensive became slightly exhausting towards their set’s conclusion, all three bands were a fine spectacle. Listeners new to this genre should give them a try – especially the support acts.
words and photos NATHAN ROACH