City of Caterpillar/Thou/Dreamdecay @ The Vera Project, Seattle, WA 10/12/17

by Hugh Schmidt

I stepped off the bus in Seattle, and like, really needed to pee so I went to a McDonalds and did so. I then walked to the Vera Project with the knowledge that I was going to go see one of the most legendary and influential screamo/post-hardcore bands ever. This was the band that got me into screamo, the one that started my obsession with the scene.

Now look, I'm going to be completely honest. I definitely would have enjoyed the opening bands more if I weren't just waiting for City of Caterpillar. Regardless, locals Dreamdecay were super cool, they had kind of a repetitive arty noise rock vibe. Think like Sonic Youth meets The Monks. They didn't grab me as much, which I know is sacrilege (especially in the PNW) but to me their blackened doom sound isn't super engaging (I've never been able to make it through a full album of theirs that wasn't a collab. Their stage presence was really good though and definitely are a fun band to headbang to.

I'm very much a spaz so my leg was twitching uncontrollably while waiting for City of Caterpillar and when they finally started I was fucking ecstatic. And goddamn, did they not disappoint. They were incredible and the energy was so completely there. They played every song perfectly and the crowd energy was fantastic. Sure, some people left after Thou, but those people are posers and by no means detracted from the experience. The people in the pit during COC were super chill and really nice to one another, and seemed so happy to be there. During "A Heart Filled Reaction to Dissatisfaction" my heart was beating faster than it ever had to the point where I was legitimately worried about my own safety. I screamed along to every word and went fucking nuts. During "A Little Change Could Go A Long Ways" they proved their mastery over dynamics and over the audience. Brandon kist kept playing the beautifully sad guitar motif as the rest of the band gradually and smoothly dropped out. They captured the audience's attention so completely that you could hear a fucking pin drop.

I left that show feeling fucking exhilarated and was so ecstatic. It was pure catharsis at it

I left that show feeling fucking exhilarated and was so ecstatic. It was pure catharsis at its best, which is exactly what I want from an emo show. Everyone seemed to be on the same page, and we were all hugging each other and crying afterwards. If you get the chance to see City of Caterpillar on this reunion, take it. Look, I wasn't really sentient when they were originally together but it was like they never stopped playing shows. It didn't sound like a reunion, they sounded like a band at the very top of their game.

Listen Here:

https://thearchivistlabel.bandcamp.com/