OVO Arena, Wembley, London, 23/09/25
“Oh shit, are we at Wembley?”
Vic Fuentes utters these words with as much swagger as he does disbelief, because the weight of what Pierce The Veil are doing right now is still only sinking in. Of course, they deserve to be a sold-out arena-level band – one of the most consistent success stories that the scene has in its volumes – but the fact that a band like them has been able to conjure so much varied vigour speaks even louder volumes. Transcending the boundaries of metalcore, post-hardcore, alt-rock and even world music throughout their 18 years of creative exploration, this is a signal of what can happen when you do things entirely your way.
And with the I Can’t Hear You World Tour, they are celebrating the wonderfulness of what it means to be different.
That sentiment is reflected in the support they have brought along with them as well. Opening proceedings with an intoxicating bang, CRAWLERS demonstrate why British rock and roll is in some of the safest hands it has been in for quite some time. The band’s enthralling brand of noise feels beautifully at home and effortlessly timeless on a stage of this stature, with vocalist Holly Minto entrancing every one of the early birds with her spine-tingling croons and boundless energy, especially during a euphorically brash ‘Messiah’.
Hot Mulligan change the pace but don’t let up on the charm next, their twinkly and cathartic pop-punk being met with smiles aplenty. Slowly but surely getting more used to these size rooms, the confidence that bolsters the indie rhythm of ‘Drink Milk And Run’ and throat-shredding heft of ‘It Smells Like Fudge Axe In Here’ is abundant, whilst seeing the amount of people singing along to ‘*Equips Sunglasses*’ and ‘BCKYRD’ clearly warms all of their hearts. A mark for where doing what makes you happy will take you.
And finally, Cavetown bring cutesy romance, delicate atmosphere to the table for 45 minutes of sheer loveliness. The joy of getting to perform these bedroom anthems in such a prestigious room is far from lost on Robbie, especially apparent when joined by Vic for a stunning rendition of ‘a kind thing to do’. But it is in the chorus of voices that scream back the words to ‘Boys Will Be Bugs’ and ‘Devil Town’ that demonstrate just how far these feelings have travelled. “Never stop being yourself because being yourself is mad cool,” he proclaims, and there couldn’t be a more apt attitude.
Just by the array of people gathered here tonight, from teens in their finest black suits to adults adorned in their vintage tour shirts, it’s plain to see that PTV have bridged the gap between generations over the course of their nearly two-decade adventure. But it’s only when they take to the stage in a cloud of smoke and launch into a brutish ‘Death Of An Executioner’ that you really get the feel of how stratospheric this has gotten. By the time that ‘Bulls In The Bronx’ sends the floor into utter raptures, such pandemonium is solidified.
Using this run as a chance to pay tribute to every beat of their discography means that there are plenty of surprises in store tonight. Yet the biggest takeaway from every throwback is just how much bigger, bolder and boundless they sound when delivered by the band in the form they are in right now. The youthfully stark message at the core of ‘I’d Rather Die Than Be Famous’ almost feels more powerful when delivered on this sort of scale, whilst the triple-pronged attack of ‘Wonderless’, ‘Yeah Boy And Doll Face’ and a snippet of fan favourite ‘She Makes Dirty Words Sound Pretty’ show that heartfelt, earnest and forward-thinking songwriting has been the order of the day from the very beginning of this fantastical journey.
Fast-forward to right here and right now, and the love for the new is just as potent as the old. The grunge-laced carnage of ‘Pass The Nirvana’ hits like a boot to the temple, whilst ‘So Far, So Fake’, added to the set thanks to its recent virality, slots in beautifully to the carnage. Throw in a cover of Pixies’ ‘Where Is My Mind?’, bleeding seamlessly into a gorgeous ‘Floral & Fading’ and it all feels incredibly apt for where the band’s mindset is at the current time. And though the PTV repertoire has always leaped and bounded in terms of the sonics that define it, the unanimous adoration for every single beat unveiled tonight stays steadfast, and how many bands can honestly say that?
Though it is the ‘Collide With The Sky’ portion of proceedings that really gets the blood pumping. ‘I’m Low On Gas And You Need A Jacket’ is deafening, ‘Hell Above’ is visceral and ‘Hold On Till May’ has many a tear being wiped from a cheek. It’s in this array that you truly see how masterfully the band have captured the full spectrum of human emotion over the years. Melding heartache with hedonism, unrelenting anger with deep empathy and allowing potency and poetry to exist in perfect harmony, all whilst still making songs that sound like nobody else but them.
And that’s all before an all-timer showing of ‘King For A Day’ brings the curtain down in breathless fashion.
It all amounts to a performance that feels as unifying as it does unmatchable. A rampant, rigorous and rallying display that shows exactly why the band have stayed at the peak of their powers for as long as they have. Never resting on any laurel that may present itself, staying true to who they are at every turn, and still being completely head over heels with creating art together, it makes for an inspirational and intense viewing experience.
Who knows what the next chapter of Pierce The Veil will look or feel like. Much of the fun lies in simply not knowing. But based on everything that Vic, Tony and Jaime have conjured tonight, whatever, and whenever, they choose to expand on this audacious, enduring and spell-binding tale that they have weaved, it is going to be some sights and sounds to behold.
But until then, just remember to live this life your way. Always prioritise what makes your heart shine above everything else. Be brave, be bold, be boisterous. Because when you do, magical things can happen.
That’s what PTV have done, and look where it has taken them.
