Photographed by Brent Clifton ; Written by Brent Clifton
A few months back, Periphery announced The Wildfire Tour ‘24 dates with Eidola and their own Jake Bowen performing a solo set. Noticing there was not a date close to us in Dallas, TX, my boyfriend and I decided to make the 12-hour drive to Atlanta, Georgia to see this special show. We arrived at the venue with 20 minutes to spare before the show started. Being in Little Five Points, one of the most unique and artsy neighborhoods in Atlanta, the Variety Playhouse is a rather unique venue. Originally built as a World War II-era cinema, the theater has a pit area, a sloped seating area, and an upstairs viewing area featuring more seating. This made for great views throughout the venue.
Jake Bowen started the night off as he walked onto the stage while hearing the chants of “Jake! Jake! Jake! Jake!” from the crowd. After talking with friends and others before the show started, many people expected him to come out with a guitar. Instead, Jake stood behind a table with a computer and a trackpad. Instead of riffs, Jake Bowen’s set brought vibes as the crowd danced to the rhythm of his beats and ambient synths.
Jake Bowen gained new fans for his solo project. His set was a welcome surprise to most and a unique way to start the night for an otherwise heavy show. Up next on the lineup was Eidola. After releasing their new album Eviscerate in April which seemed to lean more into metalcore and breakdowns rather than their usual post-hardcore/math rock sound, everyone was excited to see what the band had in store. The pit opened on their first song as they played through their new material and some old favorites. The crowd moshed, danced, and sang along as Eidola performed. To finish off the night was none other than the legendary Periphery. Coming off of their 2023 release Periphery V: Djent Is Not a Genre, people were curious to see what their set would consist of. Would they play mostly new songs or would it be a mix of past and present releases?The band came out and the crowd erupted as they began their set with “Ragnorak.” Keep in mind that this venue did not have a photo pit and I was in the crowd trying to get shots. This crowd was going insane. Their set included pits, jumping, and crowd surfing. Fans sang along word for word with vocalist Spencer Sotelo as he pointed the mic to the crowd. Playing songs from the newer albums as well as old favorites such as “Marigold,” the band had something for everyone as the packed venue sang along and had an amazing experience. About halfway through the set, most of the members left the stage as a drum/modular jam ensued. This worked as a good point of intermission for the show as well as showcased the insane abilities of Periphery’s drummer Matt Halpern. Closer to the end of the set, the crowd began the world-famous “ATL HOE” chant. This led Spencer to say “I don’t know what you did, but I like the energy.” The band ended their set with the song “Blood Eagle” which brought on a wall of cheer. After their set, the members threw out guitar picks and drumsticks as well as handed out the setlists to adoring fans in the crowd. The energy of the night is rarely parallel, and it was refreshing to see a show with such high energy. Whether or not Djent is a genre is no longer a concern as Periphery once again proved why they are one of the best bands in the metal scene. This show was worth the 12-hour drive and then some. I cannot wait to see Periphery take the stage once again.
