Coheed and Cambria. One of the very first bands to kickstart my love for progressive music. On a gray and humid Thursday in Indianapolis, Coheed was set to play in The Egyptian Room at the Old National Centre, and I couldn’t have been more excited. There was a lengthy, winding line outside of the venue by the time we had arrived, but it wasn’t long after the doors opened that over 1300 people had moved into place and readied for the night. The room was already dimly lit in preparation for the show, and hundreds of attendees were exchanging stories of past concerts and listing songs they were hoping to hear.
Photos of You Blew It! below:
It’s strange, but I really don’t have a whole lot to say about this show. The performances from Coheed and the opening act You Blew It! alike were top-notch, but the whole thing just felt … well, like a show. I’ve seen Coheed nearly a half-dozen times now, and I always leave with exciting stories from the night, but this time I didn’t get that feeling. Emo rock opener You Blew It! put on a solid set and took time between every song to engage the crowd, telling us about some of their experiences seeing Coheed and Cambria, and cracking jokes. But for whatever reason, the crowd was unresponsive and standoffish, despite the continued encouragement from the band’s guitarist to move around and have fun. It wasn’t even that the audience didn’t enjoy the band; despite the frequent overheard mentions in the crowd of Thank You Scientist, the opening band on Coheed’s last headlining tour, there was plenty of positive response following each song. Just … little participation.
Watching the stage as You Blew It! took their leave, not much of anything seemed to change before the main act of the night. There weren’t any props being wheeled onto the stage, no extra lighting dragged out, no flags or banners … about the only change I noticed was a stage hand removing the drum cover. Sure, not every band needs a flashy setup, but Coheed and Cambria is known for their large and extravagant stage props to match the conceptual themes of their songs, from airplane turbines to silver mannequins, and their iconic Keywork logo. Maybe I’ve become spoiled from past shows, but the vast stage of The Egyptian Room just looked so bare.
Of course, props aren’t everything, and once the band made its way out onto the stage, Coheed put on a terrific performance. They rocked the night with fan favorites like “No World For Tomorrow,” “In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3,” and “Devil In Jersey City,” and played a steady mix of energetic songs with their signature ambient tracks in-between. There was no mistaking the enthusiasm of the crowd, who sang along to every word and gave a roaring applause with each song. But throughout the night, there was just a strange disconnect between the band and the audience that I’m not used to seeing at these shows. There was very little interaction from the band that I can remember, save for frontman Claudio Sanchez pausing before the encore to check on the safety of a young girl in the crowd; it was a play-and-leave type of show from a band that’s usually very personable and conversational.
Nevertheless, the show still ended on a high note as the band broke out its biggest song to close out the set, the epic prog rock anthem “Welcome Home.” After a final bout of flashy, behind-the-back guitar solos and choral chants, Coheed and Cambria thanked the audience, said their goodbyes, and exited the stage. And just like that, the night was over! Hundreds of people began filing out of the Egyptian Room and bisecting among exits and merch tables, all with grins from ear to ear. So while I may not have felt the exciting connection I’m accustomed to from Coheed this time around, the positive energy flowing through the hallways was tangible, and I’m already eagerly awaiting their next show.
Connect with You Blew It!:
https://www.facebook.com/
Connect with Coheed And Cambria:
http://www.coheedandcambria.
https://www.facebook.com/
