Concert Review: Pierce The Veil - I Can't Hear You Tour in Nashville, Tennessee

Tessa Brainard
Jun 10
5 min read

Setlist

Death of an Executioner
Bulls in the Bronx
Pass the Nirvana
I’m Low on Gas and You Need a Jacket
I’d Rather Die Than Be Famous
Where Is My Mind? (Pixies Cover)
Floral & Fading
Yeah Boy and Doll Face
She Makes Dirty Words Sound Pretty
Today I Saw The Whole World
Wonderless
May These Noises Startle You In Your Sleep
Hell Above
Caraphernelia
Emergency Contact
Circles

Encore

Disasterology
Hold On Till May
King For A Day (feat. Kellin Quinn)

Pierce the Veil is a rock band founded in San Diego, California, in 2007, and consists of lead singer Vic Fuentes, guitarist Tony Perry, bassist Jaime Preciado, and touring drummer Loniel Robinson. From their humble beginnings in the SoCal post-hardcore scene, the band rose to stardom as they joined the Warped Tour lineup in 2007 and toured with more established bands like Breathe Carolina, Blessthefall, and Bring Me the Horizon.

However, nothing shot them to success like their 2012 album, “Collide With The Sky.” This album entered the U.S. Billboard 100 Chart at number 12 and sold over 27,000 in its debut week. This album also featured fellow musicians like Kellin Quinn, the lead singer of fellow post-hardcore band Sleeping with Sirens, and Jason Butler of the metalcore band Letlive. It soon became their defining album, launching them to new levels of fame and attracting more fans than ever.

Pierce the Veil has been my favorite band for over 12 years. I remember being up late one night and stumbling across this lyrics video to “A Match Into Water,” off of CWTS. I was instantly hooked. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve seen them perform live, and I used to own countless pieces of merchandise. My room was once plastered with posters and printed-out photos of the band. I would spend hours in my room reblogging gifs of them on Tumblr and watching interviews and music videos. At 20, I got a tattoo of their lyrics, and though I’ve grown up and learned to love different artists and genres of music, PTV will always be my true love.

I was fortunate to see them again at their sold-out show in Nashville, Tennessee, on June 3 at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium. They were supported by the pop-rock band Beach Weather (who I was honestly surprised to see on this tour lineup, since they normally tour with less heavy bands like The Maine), and their frequent tour partners, Sleeping with Sirens.

Because the line to get into the venue was wrapped around the building (and I had to stop at the merch stand when I finally got inside), I missed Beach Weather’s set. However, I was able to make it just in time for Sleeping with Sirens to start. This is the fourth time I’ve seen them on tour with PTV, so I knew most of their songs. It was fun to tap into some nostalgia as they played hits like “A Trophy Father’s Trophy Son” and “If You Can’t Hang.” By the end of their set, the audience was amped up to see PTV come on.

After some time, the house lights dimmed, and banners depicting icons from all five PTV albums were illuminated in red. The crowd waited with bated breath as “El Rey” by the prolific Mexican songwriter José Alfredo Jiménez, played. This ranchera song is about a man who doesn’t let life’s hassles prevent him from becoming a king. Pierce the Veil has always been deeply proud of their Mexican heritage and frequently integrates it into their shows and musical compositions. Soon, “El Rey” faded into the opening notes of “Death of an Executioner” from their 2023 album, “The Jaws of Life.” The adrenaline was high as the band entered the stage.

While I had checked the setlist before my show, every song felt like a delightful surprise.

There was a beautiful mix of old and new songs across all five albums. While I loved hearing some of my favorites from CWTS and their 2016 album “Misadventures”, I was excited that their first album, “A Flair for the Dramatic,” finally had its chance to shine on this setlist. In all the years I’ve been attending PTV shows, this album has been sadly skipped over. Some of the songs from this album that were a highlight for me on the setlist were “I’d Rather Die Than Be Famous,” “Yeah Boy and Doll Face,” and “Wonderless.”

They also played a snippet of the song, “She Makes Dirty Words Sound Pretty.” This song was released as a bonus track on their 2010 album “Selfish Machines,” but it is not available on Spotify, so newer fans may not know it. However, the long-time fans sang every word loud and clear. It’s a song many of us thought we would never hear live, but the experience fully exceeded my expectations.

Photo: Stage visuals during "Disasterology"

Soon, the first act was over, and the band returned to the stage for their encore. The first encore song, “Disasterology,” is one of my favorite songs and one I’ve never heard live before. Even though I knew it was on the setlist, I still couldn’t believe what I was hearing as the opening guitar riff played.

Next, they played their quintessential track, “Hold On Till May.” Since its release, this song has been a source of strength for fans due to its hopeful message. It’s always emotional to hear live, and with Fuentes’ beautiful vocals behind it, it will never fail to give me chills.

Finally, the band closed out with their tried and true closing track, “King For A Day,” bringing Kellin Quinn back out to sing along. This is a song I tend to skip when listening to the album in my car, but it’s perfect for their live shows.

Photo: Pierce The Veil Guitarist Tony Perry

Through the night, Perry’s guitar playing skills continued to outshine any other guitarist I’ve ever witnessed. Preciado’s ever-present energy had him bouncing across the stage and hyping the fans up in the crowd. As the newest member of the band, Robinson also stood out with his impeccable drumming abilities, and the speed at which he moved was incredible to watch.

This concert felt simultaneously like I was 11 years old seeing them for the first time, and like I was seeing them for the millionth time. The crowd was on its feet all night and didn’t let up for even a second. Pierce the Veil has an electric quality about them that makes every live show feel like the highlight of the audience’s lives. I am so proud to have listened to them for so long, and I can’t wait to hear the incredible music I know they will create in the future. They will always be a place of solace for me and hold a special place in my heart. For them, I will always Hold On Till May.

Written By Tessa Brainard