Live Review: Pierce The Veil, Academy, Manchester 08/12/2022

Returning to UK stages after the good part of a decade away, San Diego punks Pierce The Veil bring their newest and oldest hits back for an unforgettable night of all things emo at Manchester Academy.

To warm up the crowd before they made their appearance however, they brought their friends in Against The Current. A band that have made their own waves within the scene, and even took this opportunity to tease their own upcoming tour plans for 2023, they managed to get the room jumping and cheering along straightaway. Their standout of the set was their cover of Taking Back Sunday’s ‘MakeDamnSure’, which united everyone in that room; the ones who knew the band and their extensive discography, and the ones who were unaware of their musical existence until that moment they stepped foot into the light. And if it wasn’t the pop-punk cover, it was the fantastically received performance of ‘Legends Never Die’, their collaborative piece with gaming franchise League of Legends. Behind every alternative music fan is a video game nerd, and that is exactly what brought the ovation Against The Current received this night.

With everyone ready, restless and willing to dance their cares away, it was time for the main men of the evening. Welcoming themselves on stage with a surprisingly fitting Spanish track, here comes Pierce The Veil.

This was a band that meant a lot to many of the people within that sold-out venue. One that a majority of them never got to witness on previous ventures - especially the younger demographic - and now the lost time is being made up tenfold. Bringing the hits such as ‘Caraphernelia’ and ‘Bulls in the Bronx’ along with fan-favourite anthems ‘Hold On Til May’ and ‘I’m Low on Gas and You Need a Jacket’, it was a pleasing setlist for everyone. From the casual listener, to the emo enthusiast, to the hardcore fanatic. No one left disappointed, especially with playing newer tracks such as ‘Pass The Nirvana’, the first single off their upcoming record The Jaws of Life. Newer releases never always land right with a dedicated fanbase, especially when performed live, but Pierce The Veil fans are not the average cookie-cutter fanbase one might see at a band’s gig. They are strong, fierce individuals who will show their love and hate when necessary, but that is the one fact of the entire night: no one hated it.

Once the band exited the stage, awaiting an encore, the crowd erupted into two chants. “One more song”, and the more unique, “King For a Day”. Arguably the band’s biggest hit to date, and possibly always will, the fans and the band knew what they wanted. To the point that frontman Vic Fuentes was even teasing the fans, and letting out smiles and laughs before the group launched into the track as their overall closer.

The band went nuts. The audience went even more nuts. The lights and the sounds filled everyone’s senses. To many, this was the moment they have dreamt about for years and years. And it was happening before their very eyes. The show itself was a sight to behold; however, the emotion of every person present was also a beautiful sight and a wonderful environment to be a part of.

If there is anything to learn from Pierce The Veil at this specific concert, it’s to always expect a good time with friends, strangers and musicians. At that moment, everyone was King For a Day and they will never forget it for the rest of their life.

Music changes and saves lives. Pierce The Veil showed that in Manchester, at the Academy, in 2022.

Words by Jo Cosgrove
Words by Samantha Corcoran

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