Pierce The Veil Return to Portland After Eight Years
portland, oregon - July 13, 2024
One of the best tour surprises of 2024 was the announcement that Pierce The Veil would be opening for Blink-182 on their ‘One More Time’ tour. The San Diego natives hit the road with Blink in June and their stop in Portland was nothing short of electrifying. Known for their fast post-punk tunes and association with the 2010s emo scene, they were absolutely just as great live as they are in studio.
Photo via Instagram
Some songs are just made to be openers— Show openers and album openers alike. “Death of an Executioner” from the band’s most recent album is exactly that. It’s the first track on the album and serves as a beautiful way to introduce their new sound, and the same was conveyed when they opened with it in Portland. The buildup throughout the song is already addictive, and let me tell you, and sounded even better in person.
Frontman Vic Fuentes addressed the crowd, saying, “Portland, before we get this show started we’ve got one question to ask you guys… What’s so good about picking up the pieces?” They jumped right into “Caraphernelia”, a fan favorite from their second studio album. The track features a very distinctive chorus with its guttural screaming of the lyrics, performed live by bassist Jaime Preciado.
“Circles”, one of their more danceable songs, was so much fun. Although I was seated pretty far away from the stage, I could see people going crazy in the pit which is such a testament to the energy Pierce The Veil brings live. Now, what would an opening set be without a cover? Back in April, the band recorded a studio cover of Radiohead’s “Karma Police” and took that with them on tour. It’s addictive almost because of how different it is from the original— Instead of soft piano chords, Pierce The Veil opted for heavy and full guitars alongside vocals packed with energy, which in turn was the perfect way to bring the crowd something they already knew with their own unique twist.
Their 2012 album “Collide With The Sky” brought the band a lot of the recognition they deserved. One of the songs from that project that really reflects their love for fast punk is “Bulls in the Bronx” with its skyrocketing power and delicious Latin-influenced bridge. It also shows Fuentes’s ability to intertwine dark lyrics with a melody so upbeat that you wouldn’t think twice about what’s being said. It was an honor to upgrade from screaming this at Emo Night to a real Pierce The Veil concert.
Photo via Instagram
Much of what inspired “The Jaws of Life” was family and love. Appropriately, Fuentes dedicated “Emergency Contact” to his wife and daughter back home. The performance of this one felt intimate, I can’t explain the feeling other than to say that the room was just so full of love. Everyone smiling and hugging the person they came to the concert with was a wonderful sight, and it wasn’t hard to tell that the band enjoys and cherishes what they do so deeply.
“Pass The Nirvana” is, in my opinion, one of the most sensational rock songs to be released in a long time. The energy of this song especially was so infectious. It’s one to head bang to, to scream at the top of your lungs, to stomp around on the ground to, to mosh to. Out of all the songs they played for this set, I’d say this was my favorite. The buildup leading the chorus is extraordinary and not like anything you’ve heard before. It carried the room. There wasn't a still person in the pit. Fuentes and Preciado’s screams were exceptional live, and so much insane energy was also being carried by guitarist Tony Perry. All three members of this band, plus their touring drummer, Lionel Robinson, are extraordinary musicians and proved that with ease.
Last but certainly not least, the ultimate Pierce The Veil song: “King For A Day”. Screams overwhelmed the room when the opening notes were played. The crowd erupted in singing around me when the final chorus began, “You told me think about it, well I did…” Everything about their set was perfection, from the execution to the stage set up to even just their cool guitars. They put on an unforgettable show!
