Parkway Drive’s “Atlas North American Tour” – REVIEW

On a rainy and flooded Thursday night in Chicago, Parkway Drive’s “Atlas North American Tour” came rolling through with The Word Alive and Veil of Maya. You can check out our review of the show, after the break.

On their Atlas North American, Parkway Drive came to the House of Blues in Chicago, with While She Sleeps, The Word Alive, and Veil of Maya. Unfortunately due to weather circumstances, I arrived late to the venue and missed seeing While She Sleeps perform.

Chicago’s own, Veil of Maya was up next. Now let me say if you are ever going to join in on a mosh pit, then they theirs is the pit to join. With people being thrown everywhere, running in from all sides, and coming out with all sorts of injuries, it seemed like crazy fun. All the ingredients to a great mosh pit were present. Of Veil of Maya also provided songs such as “Pillars”, “Crawl Back”, “It’s Not Safe to Swim Today”. “Punisher”, “Divide Paths”, “Numerical Scheme” and “20/200” which encouraged crowd surfing and people to give “everything you’ve fucking got” as said by Brandon Butler. If you have not seen Veil of Maya perform, you are missing out. Just even seeing the fans during their set is exciting enough.

Opening their set with “2012”, The Word Alive, came on stage and kept the night going. Initiating a wall of death and mosh pits they are a band that I am looking forward to coming back. Also playing “The Wretched”, “Life Cycles”, and “Dragon Spell”, The Word Alive made sure to let Chicago know they were the city they were looking forward to coming to. They also invited everyone to meet them after Parkway Drive performed by the merch area, which after Parkway Drive performed I spotted Zack Hansen, their lead guitarist walking out from the pit with the crowd towards the merch tables. I love that the bands support each other this way.

When Parkway Drive took the stage, the crowd did not stop moving for their whole set. Playing both old and new songs, Parkway Drive put on a great show. Songs that completed their set included “Dark Days”, “Romance is Dead”, “Home is for the Heartless”, “Sparks”, “Boneyards”, “Idols and Anchors”, “Swing”, “Deliver Me”, ”Wild Eyes”,  Dead Man’s Chest” and “Carrion”. At times the crowd voice singing along could be heard over lead singer, Winston McCall’s. They have such great stage presence and energy, how could you not have fun at a show with them performing.

f you are going to let loose at any show, this is the one you want to be at to do so.

Information about the review…
Tour: Atlas North American Tour
Bands: Parkway Drive, The Word Alive, Veil of Maya
Reviewer: Ali Jimenez
Date: April 18, 2013
Venue: House of Blues in Chicago, IL

Did you enjoy this review? Have you been to any dates of this tour? Are you planning on going to any dates of this tour? Let us know in the comments below!