By KEVIN TAN
alltherage@thestar.com.my

Anthony Green swimming in an ocean of a crowd while singing.

LOCAL rock fans were given a real treat a couple of weeks ago when American progressive rockers Coheed and Cambria came for their second concert in Malaysia, bringing their world tour co-headliners Circa Survive with them. American rock band Circa Survive was chosen by Coheed and Cambria for their world tour and this marked the band’s very first performance in Malaysia on April 24 at Bentley Music Auditorium in Kuala Lumpur, while the progressive-rock band Coheed and Cambria greeted fans for the second time since two years ago.

It was a special night for many, especially for those who spent their time listeningfans of to the younger years ofCirca Survive’s earlier music as the band includedperformed classics like The Difference Between Medicine And Poison Is In The Dose and In Fear And Faithto their setlist. And what better way to start off a concert than to play a classic? Circa Survive came on stage and rocked Act Appalled from their very first album Juturna, and that already got the crowd going aesthetic ecstatic.

Circa Survive frontman Anthony Green interacting with the crowd while displaying his raw high-pitched vocals.

Frontman Anthony Green, formerly of Saosin, successfullydelivered the same energy in the sound producedyou find in the band’s in therecords – his raw, high-pitched and coarsevocals were top-notch.
Fan went wild when the band played Suitcase, a single off their latest album Violent Waves; an emotional, mysterious andslower, more emotional number.

The crowd of about 600 sang along to highly relatable musicthroughout the set, and they waswere treated withto an all-time favourite Get Out for the band’s final number. At this point, fans were yelling lyrics more than they were singing.
The energy bouncing back and forth between the band and the crowdseemed to be endless was insane, It wouldn’t be surprising ifand it was almost as if they had come just for Circa Survive. They even called for an encore, but it was time for the main event – Coheed and Cambria.

Coheed and Cambria rocking out Kuala Lumpur at Bentley Music Auditorium.

The quartet from New York took it to a whole new level, and proved themselves worthy of their main billing. Their set arrangement, the technicality of their performance and even frontman Claudio Sanchez’s hair (which looks more like a mane) all worked together beautifully to create one heck of a show. The band had their act all set for the audience – the set arrangement, technicalities, and gravity in their music made them rise as top live performers among other great bands in the world. I have to add that frontman Claudio Sanchez’s hair (more like a mane) made the performance all more interesting. I assure you that all you will pay attention to is his mane (you won’t be able to see his covered face anyway), especially when he head bangs.

The band treated fans with a classic early on, Early in their set and audience were already treated with classic favouriteA Favor House Atlantic from their second album In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3.

Coheed and Cambria’s bassist Zach Cooper did not only have precision in his playing, but also had a strong voice to back frontman Claudio Sanchez up with singing and some crazy screaming.

You’d be forgiven for doubting whether he’d be able to pull off those super high-pitched vocals live on stage, but he actually sounded better than he does on the records. Some may doubt whether Sanchez can actually pull off those very high pitched and enduring vocals live, but aside from just great hair, Sanchez’s vocals were flawless, and proved to be even more authentic live than in the record.

Bassist Zach Cooper and lead guitarist Travis Stever both proved to be pretty good singers as well, backing Sanchez with some melodies, harmonies and some plain, crazy screaming.

Coheed and Cambria’s bassist Zach Cooper did not only have precision in his playing, but also had a strong voice to back frontman Claudio Sanchez up with singing and some crazy screaming.

No Coheed and Cambria fan would ever let them gooff stage without playing their most critically acclaimed single, Welcome Home from the album Good Apollo, I’m Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness (yes, that’s the actual album title), and I bet the band wouldn’t either, and the band probably wouldn’t have it any other way either.

It really was a concert to remember, with two of the biggest acts in alternative post-rock and post-hardcore sharing the stage. Hopefully the bands will make good on their promise to return someday.