Coheed and Cambria bring the NEVERENDER GRAIBSIV Tour through Kansas City

On a beautiful Kansas City night, the lines to get into The Midland Theater could be seen stretched down both sides of the block. Why, you ask? Well Coheed and Cambria were inside that theater, and the fans were anxiously awaiting their chance to see and hear them. Coheed and Cambria had announced at the start of the tour that they would play Good Apollo, I’m Burning Star IV: From Fear Through The Eyes of Madness in its entirety at all non-festival shows. A very diverse crowd of young and old, dressed anywhere from metal head to pinup girl, were filing through the doors. Opening the night was The Dear Hunter, and no, Bobby De Niro and Christopher “Cow Bell” Walken were not coming out on stage to relive the 1978 Academy Award winning film. The Dear Hunter is a band formed in 2005 by frontman, Casey Crescenzo. The Dear Hunter’s melodic style delivered by their four total guitarists was one that put the Midland audience in the mood for the rest of the night. Every song ended with a chorus of approval before lending into the next.

Coheed and Cambria opened their set with a style and grace all of their own, what I would call the calm before the storm. A solid piano solo of “Keeping the Blade” followed by an acoustic solo of “Always and Never,” and then the storm hit. Coheed and Cambria dialed it up to eleven and just let loose with “Welcome Home.” Coming out of the gate that strong might not be the best idea for some bands, but yeah, after that there was no gate, and Coheed marched on throughout the night with nothing but pure fire behind them pouring it all out to the fans. Speaking of behind them, three massive video boards lit up the entire stage with brilliant combinations of lights and for lack of a better term, trippy effects that flowed along with the music that was pulsating throughout the theater. The Midland Theater was filled with thousands of smiling faces, and yes even a few tears of joy. No one was left wanting; Coheed and Cambria came to Kansas City, and they delivered show that will be burnt into the memories of many for years to come.