Every Time I Die, Mastadon and Coheed and Cambria
Ford Amphitheatre // Brooklyn, NY // June 7th, 2019
Photos and review by Jess Williams
One of my favorite parts about living in New York City are the multitude of summer concerts that happen throughout the city. Whether it’s rooftop concerts in southern Manhattan with expansive views of the Brooklyn Bridge or a massive amphitheater on the beach, there is always a great view with great music to be seen and heard. Friday night was no different as the Ford Amphitheater on the boardwalk in Coney Island filled up for the Unheavenly Skye Tour.
Every Time I Die
The first band of the night was Every Time I Die. The metalcore veterans played a killer opening set and successfully amped up the crowd for the remainder of the evenings performances. Halfway through ETID’s 45 minute set, I was watching crowd surfer after crowd surfer flow over the barricade. Sweaty and singing along to the songs, each person came running out of the pit with the biggest smile on their face. Vocalist, Keith Buckley, gave a small speech on ETID’s fanbase being like a family and while the band was performing, I was watching the crowd interact with one another; it was a clear familial-like bond between the band and their fans and it was a real treat to see.
Mastodon
After a 30 minute set change, expansive lighting rigs and LED panels were lifted onto the stage and the party was about to begin. The notable Atlanta based rockers, Mastodon, graced the stage and the crowd went wild. The band played some of their classic hits as well as newer music and it was an honor to get to see such a highly esteemed band perform live right before my eyes.
Coheed and Cambria
After a killer performance, Mastodon packed their stuff up and the transition into the headlining set began. A white sheet was lifted to hide the stage transition and not before after, the light within the amphitheater went dark. Screams erupted throughout the venue as the Coheed and Cambria logo was blasted onto the white sheet. An ominous voice radiated throughout the venue, talking about unheavenly creatures (also the name of Coheed and Cambria’s most recent album). The sheet dropped and the music started instantly.
Having been a fan of Coheed and Cambria since my middle school days, getting to see the band finally after a decade of waiting was one of the best honors I could have asked for. The high energy of lead vocalist, Claudio Sanchez, was contagious as he ran across the stage, whipping his ferocious curly haired mane back and forth. The band’s performance was one for the books with insane lighting, stage presence and a cohesive sound that showcased the band’s true talent.
The Unheavenly Skye tour kicked off the summer concert season here in Coney Island and I definitely recommend you kick off your summer concert season by checking out your local date of the tour, because it is definitely not an event to miss!
