Few bands from the ‘90s have kept their steam going like progressive rock outfit Coheed and Cambria. Instead of rotting, they are ripening in their older age, and maintain a high level of energy that was apparent at their show on March 6 at Jannus Live.
Compared to a less enthusiastic show in St. Petersburg two years ago, they were a whole different creature. A recent line-up change might just be what re-inspired the music.
The band’s original drummer, Josh Eppard, is back and making a notable change in the sound of the band, with his more upbeat style of playing. On a sadder note, their former bass player, Michael Todd, was arrested for holding up a drug store in July 2011. He had been dealing with drug issues for some time and the band tried to help him through it, but they decided it was best to part ways.
In an interview singer and songwriter Claudio Sanchez admitted that one of the songs on the new album, “Domino the Destitute”, was inspired by his friend’s fall from glory. The song documents the life of a boxer who let fame go to his head and corrupt his soul.
“Ladies and broken gentlemen, the undisputed champ of misery,” Sanchez sings. They played the song as an encore, while eerie artwork of a hellish boxing ring flashed by on the wall behind them.
Todd was replaced by Zach Cooper, whose back-up vocals added a positive new dynamic to the sound. Their new album, released in two parts titled “The Aftermath: Dissension” and “The Aftermath: Ascension”, explores some fresh territory for them, but with the fury and passion of a younger Coheed.
All of their music follows a complex storyline in a futuristic, Star Wars-esque universe that came straight out of Claudio’s imagination. “The Aftermath” tells the story of Sirius Amory, a different character than previous albums, and another reason for the evolution in sound. Their set at Janus seemed to ignore their middle years, comprised of mostly new songs, with a couple of very old ones.
The crowd fed off of the more energetic Coheed, creating a very different atmosphere from their last show in St. Petersburg, which featured a mellow acoustic set and a less enthusiastic electric one.
At one point, there was too much excitement when a brawl broke out among two concert-goers midway through the set. Claudio stopped the song long enough to scream a shrill obscenity into the microphone, throw a bottle of water and tell the two to get out of the venue.
“I tried my hardest to just keep the tune going, but when blows start happening it’s really just not f**king cool. My apologies,” said Sanchez.
The rest of the show unfolded smoothly, with elaborate lighting and stage décor accenting every song. The night culminated with the performance of the band’s signature song and anthem, “Welcome Home.”
Photo by Kade Ballogg.
