Pierce the Veil have been around the block and then some since their debut in 2007. In their almost two decade-long career, the band have played at basically every venue and festival under the sun across the various continents, including the now-infamous and sadly departed, Warped Tour in the US.
British fans of the band have been well fed by the San Diego trio, with the
California natives touring across the
UK twice in the past two years, after a long six-year break from gigging here. At the tail end of 2022, Pierce the Veil played at Manchester Academy to a sold out crowd of 2,600 hungry to sing their hearts out. The tickets two years ago were so difficult to get a hold of, which is why it's no surprise that they opted for the larger Victoria Warehouse, which has a capacity of 3,500, this time around. I've been a fan of the band since way back when Tumblr was still the
Social Media platform of choice for spotty-chinned emos, and skinny jeans were in
fashion. READ MORE: Declan McKenna hits Manchester with "spectacular and slightly unhinged" finale during album tour READ MORE: 'The 90s were the last great youth movement - people are still after that nostalgia and hedonism' Having seen their gig at the Academy, I already knew I was in for a treat on this tour, but I was still left blown away by their electric performance of their latest album, the Jaws of Life, which was released in February 2023, as well some of their older fan favourites. The set kicked off with one of their latest tracks, Death of an Executioner, before moving on to Caraphernelia (a term said to embody the feeling when a partner leaves you but leaves many of their belongings at your home, name after one of the lead singer's ex-girlfriend's) and Circles, another classic from their epic discography. The band then played a cover of Karma
police by Radiohead, which was also released on Spotify late last year. Pierce the Veil aren't particularly known for doing covers, although their version of Bruno Mars' Just the Way You are on Punk Goes Pop Volume 4 from 2011 is a certified bop, but the song fits in with the moody vibes of Jaws of Life perfectly. Other songs played from the band's latest album included my favourite, Emergency Contact, and Pass the Nirvana, as well as Resilience. It is always hard for any artist to put out new
music that shows growth, both artistically and personally, but Pierce the Veil have handled it seamlessly. Emergency Contact is dedicated to the lead
Singer, Vic Fuentes', wife and it markedly feels more grown up compared to some of the band's more angsty songs. The song recognises the lead singer's mortality and his unwavering adoration to his wife, which is a far cry from some of the band's earlier projects, which discuss heartbreak and rocky relationships during their teenage years and early twenties in great deal. More highlights include an acoustic rendition of Bulletproof Love, which sounded absolutely gorgeous, as well as a surprising intermission during the gut-wrenching Hold On Till May. As bands often do, Vic brought a fan up to the stage mid-performance for a personal serenade, but after noticing the fan's sizeable tattoo and Collide with the Sky album art face paint, he decided to give her his guitar to keep. I'm not sure if she left the gig with it, but if you needed a reason to get to the barricade for the very minuscule chance of meeting one of your idols and the chance to walk away with an electric guitar, this is it. The opening bands, Holding Absence and Dayseeker, were also two great watches and worthy support acts. Holding Absence, which hail from Cardiff, coincidentally near from where I grew up, have been slogging away in the scene since 2015. The band have grown a loyal fan base and it was great to hear them play some of their heavier tunes from their latest release, The Noble Art of Self Destruction, which came out last year. Pierce the Veil's set list was perfectly curated, balancing nostalgia with their latest, more mature sounding release, beautifully. While the stage design was basic, the pyrotechnics and light show made up for it as they were nothing short of spectacular, being well-received by fans. The band's performance at Victoria Warehouse proved that they not only put on some of the best pop punk shows, but they are still on top of the game, even 17 years in the game. The band continue their tour in
Dublin tonight (April 7).