Gallery Review: Eidola at Henao Center, Orlando

Eidola is arguably one of the most underrated bands in the post-hardcore scene and fans have been impatient for their return to full operation after a long four year stretch between 2017’s To Speak, To Listen, and 2021’s The Architect. The delay was a result of record label partnerships, the pandemic, and likely the fact that members are involved in other musical projects (Dance Gavin Dance, Royal Coda). As such, their 2022 Fall tour of the United States has been highly anticipated with many shows fully or nearly sold out. The current twenty-three stop run is their first ever co-headlining tour, sharing the bill with Rain City Drive and support provided by Royal Coda and Body Thief. I had the opportunity to catch the Orlando show at the Henao Center last week.

This was my first time at the venue, and it was definitely one of my least favorites that I’ve ever attended. Parking was a nightmare, it was nearly impossible to move around, seemed to be way over capacity for safety, and barely any security was present. (And trust me, I’ve been in my fair share of small venues). Still, the band managed to put on a fantastic show and leave their fans smiling. Certainly, the state of the venue is not a reflection on the band or crew, who clearly worked very hard to ensure this tour ran smoothly, even when presented with a challenging environment. The band was even kind enough to hand out water bottles to the crowd to prevent any heat induced health issues.

Eidola is bursting with talent, and it’s even more evident on stage as they shift from aggressive dissonance to melodic choruses amongst breakdowns and solos. Vocalist Andrew Wells has a unique voice and range that compliments their eclectic style as he delivers his introspective lyrical content. (SwitchBitch Noise has previously spoken to Andrew about the band’s influences and writing process earlier in Eidola’s career. Those interviews can be read here and here). Sergio Medina is easily one of my favorite guitarists to see live due to his remarkable talent as a musician and also because of the way he flails around on stage as if he could topple over or collide with the surrounding equipment at any moment. Sadly, this stage wasn’t large enough for his usual antics, but the shredding was just as impressive as always. Drummer Matt Hansen was all smiles behind his kit as he responded to the energy of his audience and guitarist Matthew Dommer added supporting unclean vocals along with guitar. Bassist James Johnson barely seemed to fit on the stage but his grooves were felt nonetheless. With a set including tracks for their last three albums, there was something for both old and new Eidola fans to enjoy.

Towards the end of the set, Wells shared that the band has just wrapped up their work on their next studio album, so be sure to follow the band on all social media platforms to be the first to know when a release date is announced! In the meantime, grab a ticket to a local show or consider ordering some band merch to support a group of humble, hard-working musicians.