Concert Review: Coheed, Cambria, UPROAR.

The crowd miraculously built up any enthusiasm they had been saving from Circa Survive’s performance as Coheed and Cambria’s atmospheric track “The Ring In Return” preluded the band’s entrance. A resounding chant of “Coheed! Coheed! Coheed!” negated the need for an introduction, and the chillingly low first notes of “Sentry The Defiant” rang from Claudio Sanchez’s guitar. From the get-go, every bit of the performance was solid; Sanchez’s vocals were loud and powerful, guitarist Travis Stever and bassist Zach Cooper provided fierce backing vocals atop precise fretwork, and recently-rejoined drummer Josh Eppard brought forth rhythmic and groovy fills.

Coheed and Cambria played an excellent blend of old and new favorites, and their stage presence far exceeded that of Circa Survive’s. They brought in a much bigger crowd than the former band as well, and kept that crowd entertained. People of all ages enjoyed the set, largely thanks to the group’s diversity. Though Coheed is primarily a progressive rock band, their performance incorporated touches of alternative rock, pop, heavy metal, and big-band that kept everyone interested.

Those familiar with the band’s latest efforts recognized transitional sounds borrowed from their recent two-part album The Afterman between songs, and a flag adorning the album cover behind them as they played. Bassist Cooper’s distorted riff began their new single “Number City,” and led way into one of the band’s most powerful songs, “Gravity’s Union.” Sanchez introduced the track with heavy breath, and kept the crowd energized throughout their performance with some signature moves, including screaming into the pickups of his guitar, and switching to his iconic double-neck Gibson SG during their final song, “Welcome Home.”