The Color Before the Sun” tour made a stop in Charlotte this past Tuesday bringing prog metal favorites Coheed and Cambria to The Fillmore. The band is out in support of their newest album which was a big shift in direction for the Nyack, New York rockers. Their previous albums have been based on the sci-fi writings, The Amory Wars, by frontman Claudio Sanchez but this new record is full of solid, stand alone songs. It also has a much lighter, pop rock feel which is another big change from the dark, heavy feel of most of their work.
The crowd was as thick as the smoke emanating from the stage as Coheed and Cambria took the stage. The lighting was almost non-existent as just the silhouttes of Sanchez and guitarist Travis Stever were visible to the crowd as the band launched into the opening song “Ghost.” The setlist relied heavily on tracks from the new record which gave a much more upbeat feel to the performance and worked right in with the classic songs. Along with plenty of smoke, the band had an elaborate light rig as a backdrop changing from song to song. Aside from thanking the audience for the privilege of being able to perform their music, Sanchez was quiet as were the other band members. Instead, they allowed the music to speak for them as they held the crowd mesmerized and entranced by each individual note. The band was technically proficient as the proggy guitar runs washed over the venue and Sanchez’s vocals never sounded better. Some of my favorite moments of the show were the softer ones as the spotlights centered on Claudio for an emotional, acoustic rendering of “Here To Mars” and beautiful lights set a dazzling background for the poignant “Peace to the Mountain” which closed out their set.
The band returned for a three song encore which began with the rousing “You Got Spirit, Kid,” another new song which has a very, light hearted, positive feel and came complete with confetti cannons spewing pink and orange confetti over the crowd. Fan favorites “Here We Are Juggernaut” and “Welcome Home” completed the evening.
I love the whole feel that “The Color Before the Sun” brought to the live show. It added yet another dimension to the complexity and grandeur that is Coheed and Cambria. More than just a concert, the band takes the audience on a musical journey. Come and join the ride when they come to a city near you .
Set List:
Ghost
In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3
Blood Red Summer
Island
The Crowing
Key Entity Extraction V: Sentry the Defiant
A Favor House Atlantic
Here To Mars
Eraser
The Hard Sell
No World for Tomorrow
The Audience
Peace to the Mountain
Encore:
You Spirit, Kid
Here We Are Juggernaut
Welcome Home
We would like to thank Violet Foulk from Go Lightly Media for the credentials to review the show.
