For years Parkway Drive has brought together an array of people to their shows. Individuals with their own unique backgrounds with one main thing in common, a love for the post hardcore genre. Joining Parkway Drive on this tour were Polarity, Counterparts and We Came As Romans.
One of the toughest things bout being a lesser known opening act is having to deal with a smaller crowd. This was a challenge, of many, for Polarity. When people in the crowd don’t really know you or [more importantly] your music, it can be difficult to get the reaction you are looking for. In a venue that can hold over 2,000 people with barely 100 bodies watching your opening set, it can be discouraging. However, that didn’t stop the guys of Polarity from enjoying their set. Aside from the basic numbers game amongst the crowd, the biggest challenge Polarity has is setting themselves apart from the rest. While their sound is solid, they become a carbon copy amongst the masses which ultimately makes them quite a forgettable act.
As the crowd filled in, it became apparent as to why; Counterparts has quite the following, and for good reason. While, yes, some can say they too have a similar sound to many musicians, it’s the lyrics mixed with the on stage energy that keeps people excited. I can’t say I would ever play a Counterparts’s album on repeat but I could watch them live for hours on end. Counterparts is one of those bands you may not get excited about on a recorded track but their live sets is where they really pull you in.
One of the most well known openers [band in general] had one of the most intense crowds. We Came As Romans conquered yet another killer set. When they first came out I couldn’t help but feel like something was missing. One of the unique things bout WCAR is their use of 2 different vocalists; yet one seemed to be missing [Kyle Pavone]. Nearly finished with the first song and still no sign of Kyle, I was starting to became sadden by the realization [as I’m sure others in the room were as well] that he and WCAR could have parted ways. I was just about to stop my wishful thinking when Mr. Pavone graces us with his vocal presence. At that point the whole room lost their damn mind. David Stephens gave some words of advice as an intro to one of their last songs in the set, “Past, Present, Future”; “”If you truly wanna do something if you truly believe in something don’t listen to the nay Sayers. This song is all bout that.”
With WCAR ending their set on a positive (as if there’s another way to end it), it was time for Parkway Drive. Anyone who has ever seen Parkway Drive before knows they are in for a killer show. What’s makes PD such a joy to watch is that they embrace their music to such an extend that their lyrics come alive with their movements. They each have their own musical persona that connect in such a way on stage that it becomes theatrical in the best possible way. When each member “breaks character” and cracks a smile or shows their genuine appreciation to the crowd it shows them in a different light. For me, those moments take the performance to a deeper level. In these moments we [as fans] are able to connect with these musicians we idolize, as humans who know that in an instant this can all vanish. So it’s important to take advantage of the here and now.
It’s no secret that when Parkway Drive comes to town, the crowd is going to be nuts. With New York City being a “must hit” for nearly ever tour they have; lead singer, (Winston McCall), made it a point to mention, “We didn’t wanna give u the same set twice. We’ll give you something new, something old and something vintage.”
Even though the show wasn’t sold out, that never makes a difference at a Parkway Drive Show. The room is always filled with an array of positive emotions and energy which makes Parkway Drive an unforgettable act every time.
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