Concert Review: Pierce The Veil at House of Blues

San Diego post-hardcore band Pierce The Veil is currently supporting Attack Attack! on the full US 'This Is A Family Tour' that runs until December 20th. On November 13th the tour came to the House of Blues Chicago, and Pierce The Veil played a solid, well put together set to a sold out crowd.

Half of Pierce The Veil's setlist was comprised of songs from their latest album, Selfish Machines and the rest split among A Celebration of an Ending, and A Flair for the Dramatic. The majority of the songs off Selfish Machines would transcend into a great live performance, so it is a shame they haven't headlined a tour in support of it so fans can experience more songs in a live setting.

At their House of Blues concert in Chicago, Pierce The Veil had two platforms on each side of the stage, one for bassist Jaime Preciado and one for lead guitarist Tony Perry. The platforms were a little taller than the monitors, and was the perfect height for kids in the back to get a better view at them playing.

The lights went out, with only a spotlight roaming over the empty stage as a slow, dreary, haunting musical intro played over the monitors. Pierce The Veil took the sold out House of Blues Chicago stage, and right as the musical tempo picked up, drummer Mike Fuentes hit some heavy beats and bright white lights illuminated the stage.

Jaime and Tony were perched a-top their respected platforms, and as they were playing along to the musical intro, they moved in synch and to the rhythm of the music. Literally, choreographed in synch down to their jumps and guitar movement.

Singer and rhythm guitarist Vic Fuentes was set up center stage, and once the band finished playing their intro music, he greeted the sold out crowd with, "What the f**k is up Chicago!"

Pierce The Veil started out their show playing "Bestitos" which is also the first track from Selfish Machines. Lead singer Vic does not have much room to be mobile since he not only sings, but plays guitar. He seemed a bit stiff at first, but once the instrumental break in "Bestitos" happened, Vic stepped away from the mic and got to some movement going which helped loosen up his performance.

Another song performed off Selfish Machines was, "The Sky Under The Sea," and mid-song both lead guitarist Tony Perry and bassist Jaime Preciado each climbed a speaker that was on the side of drummer Mike Fuentes and played from a-top there.

Pierce the Veil did a musical breakdown of Far East Movement's song "Like A G6" while white strobe lights were going off before they kicked into their own song "The Boy Who Could Fly". It was only about 30 seconds long, but the entire crowd was enthusiastically into it, and if they do this every show the kids might start demanding a full version.

They closed with, "Caraphernilia" was a great way to end their set, especially since it is their current single. Even though Pierce The Veil was the main supporting act they still had a short time set, which left for only around eight songs to be played.

The Pierce The Veil boys definitely prepared for the 'This Is A Family Tour' and it showed through their air tight set. The synched up movements that Jaime Preciado and Tony Perry performed throughout their set showcased how Pierce The Veil thought out how to give the most entertaining performance they could to the audience. They made up for Vic's lack of movement from having to play guitar and sing.

The only real complaint is how that huge Attack Attack! sign was behind Pierce The Veil throughout their performance. Yes, I get the audience knows it is Pierce The Veil on stage, but now their performance pictures and videos all have another bands name in huge writing behind them.

'This Is A Family Tour' will be going on until the middle of December, and then Pierce The Veil have a couple of weeks off before supporting Silverstein throughout most of January. That tour will not be coming through Chicago, but that could mean Pierce The Veil will be embarking on a headlining tour after that, which would most likely come through Chicago.

For those wanting to know what Attack Attack! Played at the Chicago 'This Is A Family Tour' stop: