Animals As Leaders (w/ Periphery) @ The Strand Ballroom & Theatre (Providence, RI) on November 10, 2017 [Photos & Show Review]

Progressive metal fans rejoice! Animals As Leaders and Periphery are currently melting faces across North America on a month-long co-headlining run dubbed the “Convergence Tour”. Car Bomb has been opening on this run so far, but Astronoid is poised to take over opening duties halfway through. We caught up with the tour as it hit Providence, Rhode Island’s Strand Ballroom & Theatre, which was just underwent a multi-million dollar renovation and name change from its former life as the much-loved venue Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel.

Unfortunately, due to inaccurate start times listed on the venue’s website, I missed getting to see Car Bomb open the night out. Luckily, however, I arrived just in time to see Periphery. The band kicked things off with an older fan-favorite track, “Icarus Lives!” and immediately had the whole crowd bouncing along before launching into the rest of the set, which would heavily feature material from their most recent release Periphery III: Select Difficulty including “Marigold,” “Motormouth,” “Remain Indoors,” and “Lune”–the latter of which is being played live for the first time on this tour (frontman Spencer Sotelo introduced the track as one that really means a lot to him). Periphery were impeccably tight and were up to their usual goofy onstage antics throughout the set, which although 10 songs long still felt a bit too short.

Animals As Leaders emerged after a bit of a break and unleashed a salvo of shredding that melted the faces of all in attendance. The band launched into things with “Arithmophobia,” continuing with the infectiously catchy “Tempting Time.” AAL don’t have their LED panels with them this time around, but they’ve got crazy lighting instead that really enhances the music. Guitarists Tosin Abasi and Javier Reyes were incredible, and drummer Matt Garstka was an absolute machine! You truly have to experience Animals As Leaders live at least once to truly experience their art. The set would go on to feature other fan-favorites, including “Ka$cade,” “Ectogenesis,” and “Physical Education,” ending with the spectacular track “CAFO.” If you can catch this tour before it ends at the start of December, do yourself a favor and get out to a show!

Remaining Tour Dates:

11/17 – San Antonio, TX @ Alamo City Music Hall
11/18 – Dallas, TX @ Gas Monkey Live
11/19 – Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall
11/21 – Phoenix, AZ @ The Marquee
11/22 – Las Vegas, NV @ Brooklyn Bowl
11/24 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern
11/25 – San Francisco, CA @ The Regency Ballroom
11/27 – Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
11/28 – Vancouver, BC @ The Commodore Ballroom
11/29 – Seattle, WA @ The Showbox
12/01 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex (The Grand)
12/02 – Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre