Written by Anne-Elise Tidwell
Pierce the Veil, an early 2000s hardcore-emo staple, brought their I Can’t Hear You Tour to the Walmart Amp on Wednesday, Oct. 15 –– their largest headline tour to-date.
Arkansas was the second stop of the tour and their first time back since 2008, where they played at Vinos, an iconic punk-rock pizza joint in Little Rock.
The San Diego-based group consists of lead singer Vic Fuentes, guitarist Tony Perry, bassist Jaime Preciado and touring drummer Loniel Robinson. Pierce the Veil were a burgeoning act in the SoCal-post hardcore scene and were added to the Warped Tour lineup in 2007, opening exciting collaborations with other notable artists in the industry.
The I Can’t Hear You Tour celebrates Pierce the Veil’s eighteen years as a band aiming to “take fans back to the old days,” according to a press release. Rather than performing songs strictly from their most recent album, the setlist pulled from their entire discography, creating a nostalgic journey through their history.
The smell of hair dye and beer wafted in the breeze as the glowing orange October sun set over the amp, white vape clouds intermittently dispersing among the growing crowd. Most were strictly dressed in all-black, but others decided to wear formal wedding attire, dedicating their outfits to Pierce the Veil’s second record “Selfish Machines,” which was the designated theme for the show.
After a triad of openers, the venue’s speaker reverberated a classic Mexican ranchera tune, “El Rey,” a playful tribute to the band’s roots. Anticipation was high as fog rolled across the stage and fans erupted into cheers, letting out spirited gritos that echoed over the amphitheater.
The instrumental quickly transitioned into the group’s signature sound and Pierce the Veil opened a portal back to 2012 with their iconic track, “Bulls in the Bronx.” The hard-rock flamenco fusion set the night’s tone where the synergy between the band and the crowd grew stronger.
Pierce the Veil gave everything they had throughout the show, but what stood out to me the most was the connection between the band and their fans.
From the moment the house lights dimmed, the audience became just as integral to the performance as the band on stage. The camera panned the barricade, capturing faces screaming every lyric and guitar riff. Fans clutched the barricade with sweat and makeup running down their face, waving Mexican flags and losing themselves in the music while the band poured their hearts out.
The night was cathartic and fueled by nostalgia. It was a night where your inner child could come out no matter your age. You could channel frustrations through Pierce the Veil’s lyrics and scream into the cool night sky with absolutely no repercussions.
People threw their entire bodies to the beat with their friends in a tight, clumsy grasp attempting to hold onto the moment for as long as possible. There were groups of friends together – some young posing for Instagram, some older and more subdued smoking cigarettes with their heads hung low. Some were lying on the ground with their eyes shut, soaking up the atmosphere. There were even small children who wore tour merchandise that hung off of them like dresses rather than T-shirts, aimlessly following their parents around the venue.
Pierce the Veil proved once again that they know exactly how to command a crowd, delivering a truly phenomenal performance. But what stood out the most was the undeniable bond between the band and their fans –– a connection built on mutual respect, emotions, and years of shared history that resonated throughout the entire night.
It felt less like a concert and more like a long-awaited reunion. The stage transformed into a shared space where the band and fans could share their unique bond, the bassline vibrated through the crowd, uniting everyone through passion, nostalgia and pure collective energy.
As the final notes of “King for a Day” faded, the amphitheater erupted one last time before fading into a blissful hum. The lights slowly illuminated and Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” began to play over the speakers –– a soft, ethereal comedown of hours of hardcore chaos. The crowd dispersed while the song’s gentle rhythm washed away the noise and adrenaline.
Pierce the Veil’s cultural impact was definitely showcased at The Amp. The show was proof that their legacy still runs deep in the community and showed that their music still unites fans across all different generations and backgrounds.