REVIEW: Periphery, Eidola, Jake Bowen at Times Square Palladium | 05.18.2024
New York City has one of the largest public transportation systems in the world. Despite its more than a fair share of headaches, when the subway is running as it should, you can get to where you need to quickly and efficiently. This is not so much the case when it comes to driving; there’s always traffic it’s just a matter of how much.
Still, I did not expect the chaos that was Manhattan traffic last Saturday. At one point I was trapped between a Cybertruck and a bus that was determined to make a right turn they’d grossly underestimated. I was less than a quarter of a mile from Times Square Palladium, and all I could do was watch the clock tick closer to the start of the show.
The show to which I am referring is Periphery’s "Wildfire" tour, with the kings of djent at the helm and Eidola, as well as Periphery’s own Jake Bowen supporting. It was the last night of the bands' short-but-sweet North American trek, and they were determined to go out with a bang; a rowdy New York crowd was on hand to light the fuse. And somehow, someway, I managed to get there just in time.
JAKE BOWEN
Periphery guitarist Jake Bowen traded his headbang for a vibing nod as he kicked off the evening with a chill set of electronic beats and vocal collabs. Bowen's compositions showcased his talent as a solo artist and highlighted the integral contributions he makes as a member of the headlining act.
SONG OF THE SET: “I Am Error”
EIDOLA
Eidola flipped the heavy switch and just like that the pit was open and the crowd was surfing. They say two heads are better than one and in Eidola’s case it was double the vocal power as frontman Andrew Wells brought the melody and Matt Dommer brought the screams.
SONG OF THE SET: “Fistful of Hornets”
PERIPHERY
With every album, Periphery find new ways to experiment with and build upon their signature djent sound. The band’s performance showcased as much with a career-spanning setlist that drew from every record. Their newest release, Periphery V: Djent is Not a Genre, got particular well-deserved attention.
It honestly didn’t matter the album; the fans welcomed every song with cheers of excitement. The passion with which the fans sang along to every song illustrated just how much of an impact Periphery has made, not just on Metal at large but on the individual lives of their fans who take Spencer Sotelo’s lyrics to heart.
SONG OF THE SET: “Wildfire”