By Taylor Younani
August 13th 2016, The Regent, Los Angeles CA: When asked about modern prog metal bands, it is practically impossible to not mention Washington, D.C. based Periphery, and the groovy, innovative jams that they have released over the last several years. With Periphery touring in support of their latest full-length release ‘Periphery III: Select Difficulty’, the crowd at the Regent Theater in downtown LA were more than keen on the opportunity to hear some of the band’s latest material in the flesh.
This was a particularly special evening for me, as well as many others in attendance, and not just because it was yet another chance to see Periphery work their magic. If there is one thing that Periphery have been acknowledged for other than their own music, it’s the band’s passion for progressive music and their hand in introducing fans to upcoming bands in the genre. Without the help of Periphery, bands like Twelve Foot Ninja would have had to wait that much longer to grace us Americans with their sweet, sweet tunes. Dubbed the “Sonic Unrest” tour, this occasion was no different. For fans of the prog metal scene that Periphery have seemingly innovated, a few bands stand out as ‘pioneers’ or are otherwise regarded as trendsetters. Periphery, Tesseract and Animals as Leaders have all been immortalized in the pantheon of modern prog metal, but one band has, until now, been unable to travel the world with such vigor. Finally, nearly thirteen years after the release of the band’s first full length, Sikth have arrived in America.
While I have clearly shown a slight bias in who I was most looking forward to seeing here, it cannot be said enough how truly remarkable the lineup was for this show (Periphery and Sikth aside). Southern California’s own instrumental prog rockers Chon have once again managed to clinch a spot on a remarkable tour. Having toured extensively with Animals As Leaders, Chon have become masters of live instrumental music. The last band on the bill, Toothgrinder, have broken out in the scene as of late. Touring last year with the Contortionist, and now with Periphery, it is clear that these guys are moving on an upward trajectory with no signs of stopping. This night promised to be legendary on all accounts.
Toothgrinder have made some moves in these last couple of years, and having missed them on their last tour across the country, I was eager to see how they would deliver. From where I was standing, I thought the band sounded incredibly cohesive and the mixing was done in a way that highlighted each musician. Although I had heard some complaints from others about the mixing, the band played with a purpose and clearly enjoyed getting lost in their music. Despite Toothgrinder’s heaviness and nods to hardcore, the crowd remained relatively still, but not in a “I don’t like this band type of way”. It reminded me of the first time I saw Scale the a Summit back in 2008. Everyone let the music carry them away and took in the tunes as if it were a breath of fresh air. The atmosphere Toothgrinder created was incredible to say the least.
Toothgrinder set list:
01. The Hour Angle
02. Schizophrenic Jubilee
03. Lace & Anchor
04. Waltz of Madmen
05. The House (That Fear Built)
06. Coeur d’AleneBlue
Instrumental prog rockers Chon have found a permanent place in the metal world and that was evident by the masses in attendance for their set. The room suddenly became packed from wall to wall, and from the get-go, a small mosh pit broke out in the center of the dance floor. Chon have mastered their sound and have done so in a uniquely authentic way. When Chon is on, it is unmistakably Chon. Fans were delighted by the band’s massive 12-song set. With jams like ‘Fluffly’, ‘Suda’ and ‘Perfect Pillow’ in tow, I felt like the set perfectly encapsulated the band’s discography and showed how they are truly the masters of muscle memory. It is mind-blowing to see how far these youngsters have come in the last few years and I am positive that we will see many more big things from them in the years to come.
Chon set list:
01. Bubble Dream
02. Dew
03. Fluffy
04. Book
05. Suda
06. Story
07. Knot
08. Fall
09. Splash
10. Wut the… (Poop)
11. Puddle
12. Perfect Pillow
I don’t think anything could have prepared me for what came next. After years in the making, it was time for Los Angeles to experience Sikth. Playing 11 songs, the band gave the crowd a taste of the songs that we fell in love with nearly 13 years ago. While the band did not cover much of their latest EP ‘Opacities’, other than the single, I was more than happy to hear the songs that initially made them such an innovative group. Their set was immensely heavy but in a way that differed greatly from the other acts of the night. While the band clearly has a metalcore groove, the nods to old-school acts like Faith No More and Mr. Bungle are insane. As someone who loves that sort of chaotic artistry, Sikth more than hit the mark. Closing out the set with ‘Bland Street Bloom’ could not have been a more legendary way to end one of my favorite sets of the year. Sikth brings unparalleled passion and energy to their live performances, and I am counting down the days until I have the opportunity to see them again.
Sikth set list:
01. Part of the Friction
02. Philistine Philosophies
03. Hold My Finger
04. Scent of the Obscene
05. Flogging the Horses
06. When Will the Forest Speak…?
07. Wait for Something Wild
08. Pussyfoot
09. Skies of Millennium Night
10. Sanguine Seas of Bigotry
11. Bland Street Bloom
Periphery have proven that they are the absolute best at what they do. When it comes to gear, production, stage presence, lighting… you name it, Periphery have mastered it. I’ve been to a lot of concerts in my life and it’s incredible to look back on them and think about how many of the best shows have been Periphery headliners. While the band did not cover any material off of their debut album, it was nice to hear a mixture of some of the more memorable songs off of Periphery II and III. Kicking things off with ‘Scarlet’ and ‘Luck as a Constant’, the band warmed up the crowd with some older tunes before moving on to some of the heavier songs from their latest album. Hearing ‘The Way the News Goes’ and ‘Remain Indoors’ live and in the flesh was truly memorable for me. Although the album has only been out for a few weeks, these songs have already been solidified as some of my favorite Periphery tracks. Their massive encore hit the crowd like a freight train and the mosh pit was more alive than ever. Closing things out with ‘Lune’, Spencer Sotelo got the crowd singing, and the night ended on an immense musical high.
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Periphery set list:
01. Scarlet
02. Luck as a Constant
03. The Way the News Goes…
04. Marigold
05. Remain Indoors
06. The Bad Thing
07. Flatline
08. Memento (Haunted Shores cover)
09. Make Total Destroy
10. The Price Is Wrong
Encore:
11. Four Lights
12. Stranger Things
13. Lune
Remaining Tour Dates:
08/16/2016 – Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theater
08/17/2016 – Seattle, WA @ The Showbox
08/19/2016 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex
08/20/2016 – Denver, CO @ Summit Music Hall
08/22/2016 – Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theater
08/24/2016 – Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall Ballroom
08/25/2016 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Intersection
08/26/2016 – Detroit, MI @ St. Andrew’s Hall
08/27/2016 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Small’s Theatre
08/28/2016 – Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of the Living Arts
08/30/2016 – Boston, MA @ Paradise
08/31/2016 – New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
09/01/2016 – Baltimore, MD @ Baltimore Sound Stage
