Pierce the Veil Stop in Milwaukee for an Unforgettable Night

Pierce the Veil embarked on the “I Can’t Hear You Tour” this past May and then due to demand, added an additional leg of dates. This past Friday they performed at American Family Insurance Amphitheater at Summerfest Grounds in Milwaukee with HEALTH, Ecca Vandal, and Like Roses. It was an incredible night of music from start to finish. 

All Photos By: Carrie Bergan

Like Roses was the first to take the stage, and I’ve seen them perform twice. Vocalist and guitarist Amy Schmalkuche led the crowd off to a good start. The pit was dancing and cheering the band on. The arena was still filling in as attendees continued to arrive for this momentous night. 

Ecca Vandal came out next, and boy was their set full of surprises. I had never heard of them, but their set was mindblowing. From the flashing lights to her powerful vocals, it was nothing like I’d seen before. I live for the female powerhouse vocalists. She was phenomenal in every way. The lights were a bit blinding, especially being in the photo pit front and center, but it fit their entire vibe.

HEALTH was the final opener to perform. Their lights also fit the mood as they were dark and smoky with hints of red throughout. It was more than an ordinary night of music with the way these openers just owned the stage. 

After a decent stage changeover, it was time for the main event, Pierce The Veil. They had a kabuki drop all set up, and I had never gotten to photograph a show with one. It was an exhilarating and thrilling thing to witness, especially since they had a double setup. The main curtain dropped, revealing several banners as the music continued to swell, and then those dropped as well. The second the banners came down, the music kicked in, the band came out, and the now very full amphitheatre screamed in excitement. The crowd sang along word for word to every track, and the band loved it. Every band member waltzed around the stage, up and down the risers, tossing out picks to the fans; it was glorious. This band was one of the very first punk bands I was introduced to when I first chose to strive for a career in concert photography/the music industry. The screens showed clips and lyrics for each song as the lights continued to change all around, matching the amount of adrenaline rushing around the room. 

Pierce The Veil is still on tour in the States until the end of October, and then will be going overseas at the end of November. Grab a ticket while you can; it’s not a show you want to be missing out on experiencing at all.