May in New York City can only mean one thing; it’s rooftop season! People are escaping their offices and apartments every day in search of a rooftop bar or restaurant with stunning views of the world’s greatest city. Tonight I found just the spot, Pier 17 in Manhattan. Not only does Pier 17 offer panoramic views of Manhattan and Brooklyn, but on this night, it featured native New Yorkers Coheed and Cambria. The band are out on the Neverender: No World For The Waking Mind Tour.

Although still a little on the cooler side temperature-wise, the night was going to heat up as American black metal band Deafheaven kicked off the show’s festivities. Although only playing a short set, the San Francisco band did lend a fun vibe to the crowd. A black metal band wouldn’t normally jive with a Coheed crowd most would assume, but they showed a unique ability to blend in with perfect harmony.

Ironically it wasn’t until after the black metal band that the sky darkened and the buildings of New York City began to shine with their natural majesty. Fog would begin to push through the air as the anticipation built. However, there was no fancy backdrop tonight as a lit Brooklyn Bridge and Empire State Building seemed more than sufficient. Fans in attendance were about to be welcomed to a unique Coheed experience, as the band were only playing the 2007 album No World For Tomorrow front to back and some new songs from their newest album Vaxis II: A Window To The Waking Mind, hence the name of the tour.

The stage lights went out signaling the start of the show, but there was no big introduction or running out in a frenzy by the band. Instead, Claudio took the slow walk to center stage and began playing “The Reaping,” which turned into an instant singalong. Unlike most Coheed shows that offer a certain level of unpredictability, this time, fans knew exactly what song was next. As each one of the 13 songs from No World For Tomorrow played, it really highlighted just how many bangers came out of one album. Even the songs that had a little less adrenaline built in such as “Mother Superior” or the final track of the album, “On The Brink,” were still performed with an impactful elegance that kept the crowd thirsting for more.

More is exactly what they would get as well. The stage lights went dim just as it began to drizzle like a scene out of a movie as the lights came back on and “The Embers of Fire” began to play, giving off an energy that a whole separate concert was beginning. The new songs played, “Beautiful Loser” and “Shoulders,” already felt like classics. In total, seven songs were played off of Vaxis II, bringing the total for the night up to 20. Not many bands can play 20 songs and in doing so actually skip out on some of their best work. There was no “Welcome Home,” “Blood Red Summer,” or “Everything Evil,” and it didn’t matter.

On an almost perfect May night, with the perfect setting on a rooftop along the East River, Coheed showed just how much depth there is in their catalog. The venue absolutely blew me away, and if you’re ever able to check out a show there, go! I can only hope more shows this summer are half as good as this one was.

See you in the pit.

Words by Juice Menendez. Photos by Alyson Coletta.

Coheed and Cambria