Palaye Royale – That Music Magazine

Palaye Royale’s Latest Visit To D.C. Brought Death Or Glory To The 9:30 Club

Kilian O’Neil — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 12:48:18 +0000

Written and Photographed by Liv Foltiny

Walking along V St. NW in Washington, D.C., one could easily miss the 9:30 Club. With its brick facade and lack of any conspicuous signage, the 9:30 Club looks like any old building in the city to those unfamiliar with it; however, upon entering the venue, it’s apparent that isn’t the case. From the concert posters taped on doors and throughout the halls to a back room filled with an expansive collection of albums, there is no denying the music and memories that dwell within the building. This past Tuesday (10/15), the sounds and stories of the 9:30 Club continued to grow as four different bands took to the stage, including Palaye Royale (the headliner) and Weathers—the two bands I was there for. Being a fan of Palaye Royale and having seen them at the TLA in Philadelphia two years ago, I had an idea of how their performance would be: energetic, passionate, and full of intimate interactions with the crowd. When it came to weather, I didn’t exactly know what to expect. Despite being a fan of some of their music and following the band on Facebook, I had never seen them live and, in comparison to Palaye Royale, wasn’t very knowledgeable about them.

One thing that was undeniably clear by the end of their set, though, was that Weathers’ lively stage presence perfectly complimented that of Palaye Royale. As the second band to perform, Weathers walked onto the stage fairly early in the night and, as a result, was limited to playing fewer than ten songs; nevertheless, the band members made the most of their time. Cameron Boyer (lead vocalist), whose movements across the stage ranged from erratic to fluid, commanded the crowd’s attention through vivid facial expressions and hand gestures, as well as his occasional kicks in the air and carrying the mic stand. Meanwhile, Cameron Olsen (lead guitarist) and Brennen Bates (bassist) made themselves known via swaying, headbanging, and quick movements while Christian Champion (drummer) effortlessly twirled his drumsticks and fervently played, only pausing for a moment when Boyer went over to him to sing on the mic together. Weathers carried this energy throughout their set and, after thanking and expressing their gratitude to the crowd, allowed it to culminate during their final song of the night, “C’est la vie” (which I was excited to hear live). Following Weathers’ departure from the stage, Boyer made his way to the merchandise stand to spend some time with fans. From chatting and taking pictures with concertgoers to giving hugs and signing merchandise, Boyer’s love and appreciation for Weathers’ fans was on full display, especially when he decided to stay out in the crowd longer than he originally planned. When coupled with the band giving it their all onstage, Boyer’s amiable interactions with fans evinced how Weathers’ connection with others went beyond the stage; it indicated how the band members have successfully established a place for themselves in the music industry. Additionally, it made me feel like I should listen to more of the band’s discography and, hopefully, see them again in the future.

Around 9:30 pm, the house lights dimmed as the members of Palaye Royale took their places on stage, and, within a matter of seconds, the darkness retreated while the stage lit up, revealing a custom LED fixture bearing the words “Death or Glory,” the title of Palaye Royale’s fifth (and most recent) album. Opening with “Nightmares,” Palaye Royale wasted no time getting things going. Imbued with dynamic energy and passion, Palaye Royale’s performance demonstrated how they undoubtedly know how to put on a show. Utilizing the entire stage, Remington Leith (lead vocalist) and Sebastian Danzig (lead guitarist) glided across both levels of the stage, jumped around, climbed on speakers, and interacted with their bandmates in addition to the crowd before them. Emerson Barrett (drummer), immersed in playing, remained behind his drums for most of the set, with the only exception being when he and Logan Baudean (bassist) switched places for a song or two. Even though each member irrefutably contributed to the show onstage and the space just before it, it was Remington who made sure their performance extended throughout nearly the entire venue by launching himself into the audience twice as well as scaling the venue’s structural supports and running around on the second floor. Every time he unleashed his boldness, Remington had everyone’s eyes following him, prompting enthusiastic cheering from the crowd. Besides having mastered the technical skills that correlate with artistic showmanship, the members of Palaye Royale also know how to connect with their fans on an emotional level. They achieve this through not only their lyrics but also their communication with the people at their concerts; this was evident when Sebastian took a moment to thank fans for supporting Palaye Royale and express how, because of them, the band is able to exist and do everything it does (in addition to being able to tell negative people to “fuck off”). The most poignant moment of the night, however, occurred moments before the band played “Fever Dream,” the title song of their fourth album. If you follow Remington, Sebastian, and/or Emerson on social media, you know that the past year has been extremely difficult for them. From their mom’s diagnosis and subsequent battle with stage 4 cancer to losing her earlier this year, the guys have experienced a tremendous amount of heartbreak, which Remington touched upon during his introduction to the song. In a heartfelt statement, he lovingly expressed how their performance of “Fever Dream” was dedicated to their mom, Stephanie Rachel (who would be immensely proud of them). Including many newer songs, such as “Addicted to the Wicked & Twisted” and “Dark Side of the Silver Spoon” (my top two favorites on Death or Glory), Palaye Royale’s set had bits from each of their eras. Concluding with an encore of “Dead To Me,” “Lonely,” and “Mr. Doctor Man,” Palaye Royale wrapped things up a little before 11 p.m., leaving fans to their own devices; some began to line up for the upcoming VIP meet and greet while others hung out, not ready to remove themselves from the glory still presiding in the venue. Be sure to check out Palaye Royale’s latest album, “Death or Glory”, wherever you stream music!

Playa Royale

Weathers

Fever Dream in Philly

ThatMag — Sat, 01 Oct 2022 19:36:59 +0000

Written and Photographed by Liv Foltiny

At roughly 5 pm last Saturday (9/24), I arrived at the TLA after driving back from Rhode Island earlier. Between the excitement from the night before (Thank you, Renegade Wrestling Alliance!), the energy drink I had that morning, and the fact that I was going to be seeing another of my favorite bands (Palaye Royale), I was energized and ready for the show! But first – the meet and greet and Q&A!

Back in June, when Palaye Royale announced their Fever Dream tour dates, I bought a GA ticket and VIP meet and greet package because I wanted to go to the show regardless of whether I had the opportunity to photograph it. Luckily for me, I was.

During the meet and greet, I was hugged by Sebastian (Danzig), Remington (Leith), and Emerson (Barrett) as soon as I walked up. They were sweet and accepted one of my business cards when I told them I would be photographing the show. We talked for a few minutes, and, after learning I’m from Burlington, Emerson exclaimed, “like the coat factory!” and told me that he always wanted to go into one of the stores and buy a “cool jacket.”

After talking and having some photos taken with them, I headed to where the other fans were for the Q&A, which was informative and, at one point, pretty funny. We learned which track off of Fever Dream, is Sebastian’s favorite (the fourth track – if I remember correctly), and we got to see some sibling humor emerge when Emerson jokingly called Sebastian a “shit head.”

All in all, the meet and greet and Q&A set the foundation for what would be a great night!

Standing in the photo pit before the stage, the other two photographers and I waited for the house lights to dim. Before we knew it, Starbenders walked out onto the stage and greeted the packed house in the TLA. Knowing nothing about them (I’m behind on many things), I wasn’t sure what to expect. Still, seeing Kimi Shelter (who reminded me a little of Joan Jett) and Emily Moon (shirtless with “Fuk” taped across her chest), I was interested — they had a punk rock vibe to them.

Bathed in vibrant, colorful lights, Starbenders grabbed the crowd’s attention and performed several songs, including “Holy Mother” and “Cover Me.” Their energy and interaction with the crowd prepared everyone for the headliner: Palaye Royale.

With the lights low, we heard church-like music, followed by a voice stating that the “ceremony was about to begin.” Shortly after, the band’s name lit up on the stage, and they came out, energized and ready to perform.

Wasting no time, Palaye Royale went into “Nightmares” to get things started. Constantly moving and taking turns on the stage platforms, each band member (except for Emerson – until later) was front and center in the spotlight. They didn’t limit themselves to just the stage, either. Between Sebastian running around in what was the photo pit and Remington running through the crowd and (later)crowd surfing, their stage presence extended throughout the entire venue, inciting plenty of dancing, jumping, and headbanging.

This energy lasted throughout their entire performance, including songs from Boom Boom Room(Sides A and B), The Bastards, and their upcoming Fever Dream album. “Punching Bag” was one of the songs that stood out that night. Performed live, Remington’s screams during that song were raw and, when paired with him hitting himself while singing, “Go ahead and slap me if it makes you happy,” added to it. “Lonely,” the final song of the night, had the same unfiltered screams at times and (like all of the songs before it) involved the crowd singing along until the end.

Before leaving, the band thanked everyone for being there, and Remington, on the mic, shouted, “I fucking love you!” This feeling proved to be true the entire night. From the hugs and smiles during the meet and greets to tossing water bottles to fans and occasionally stopping to make sure certain fans got medical attention, it was evident that Palaye Royale’s fans mean the world to them. If you follow the guys’ on social media, you know this tour hasn’t been a walk in the park. They have had so much shit thrown at them — several buses breaking down and having their tour manager walk out on them — but they continue to persevere, show up, and give their fans special memories they’ll keep. In doing so, they embody some of their most-recent lyrics: “Don’t let nobody break you down/Even if they wanna make your light go out/ We live, we die the Lifeless Stars/ Shining in the dark.”

Fever Dream comes out on October 28th. Be sure to check it out!

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