Parkway Drive - 20 Year Anniversary Tour
A Review
Parkway Drive had their 20 year anniversary tour in September of 2024. Promising to be their biggest and best show yet, the anticipation was high and the energy around the venue was electric. Going to their first Melbourne show on the 22nd, the night started out a little rough. Doors were advised to be open at 4:30 but no one saw the inside of the arena until 6:45. We were told that due to a production delay, Void of Vision and The Ghost Inside were no longer playing. Whilst it’s understandable that Parkway want this to be a massive stage show and want to put on the best performance for us, this was a disappointing way to start the night. This also seemed to be an issue in Sydney the night before which begs the question, why are we scheduling interstate shows so close together? It seems a day either side to get to each city and set up would’ve been a smart way to go but we all know, hindsight is 20/20.
I Prevail were still able to perform their set with a lot of people only getting to see the back half of it after finally making their way through the doors. I must admit, I’ve never given much time to I Prevail, with their cover of Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space” the only memory I really have of the band but they converted me to a fan on this night. Hailing from Detroit, the band really turned it on for the crowd. Having the first two acts that were meant to warm up the crowd be scratched from the lineup must be hard but they showed that it didn’t phase them, getting the crowd nice and toasty. Working a stage half the size of what you’d normally see due to the set up behind the curtain, I Prevail manoeuvred strategically around each other with ease, serving incredible stage presence and crowd interaction. Of course, they played their “Blank Space” cover which got a lot of singing along from the crowd and had everyone hyped for this gig to continue.
When the time came for Parkway Drive to take the stage, they entered from the top level of seats, making their way through the crowd, onto the floor and eventually up to the stage. While I can’t tell you the reason behind this, I can tell you the feelings it invoked. That they were with us. Even though this journey has taken them around the world, they’re still the kids in the crowd that love this music. That they see each and every fan in the building and appreciate the journey we’ve been on with them. I absolutely loved this entrance. It gave the night a different feel and it was nice to see an act change up the way they make it to the stage. This tour was an absolute love letter to everyone who has supported PWD over the last 20 years, as well as being an exhibition in what it takes to be one of the biggest metalcore bands in the world. The staging of this show was phenomenal. The theatrics, effects, movement, trap door, floating bridge, string instruments and dancers(!) made this a metal show unlike any you’ve seen before. The incorporation of dancers in this show was a personal highlight for me. To show the way that anything is danceable and to watch such hypnotising movement to metal songs was incredible and I applaud PWD for taking a risk that some might see as silly or pointless, and changing up the way shows of this kind of music are performed.
The mix of songs that were performed had something for everyone, no matter if you’re a fan of the old school tracks, newer music fan or have listened to every record they’ve put out. Starting with the cult classic, Carrion, the band opened the show huddled together on the smallest block of a stage you’ve ever seen, throwing us back to the intimate stages of the basements, bars and halls they started their career playing on. This instantly threw me back to being incredibly young in a basement in Frankston watching them perform for the first time and falling in love with everything PWD was. In that same tour they were playing with the band Confession which makes it even more memorable when Micheal Crafter emerges from the trapdoor to join Winston during Boneyards. To see Parkway give the love back to someone that helped kick off their career and support them throughout their journey shows the love they have for the grassroots of this music scene. The humbleness shown throughout this whole show warms your heart, showing the kids still in each of them that are just having some fun making music with their mates. There’s no demanding the crowd for more, no fighting for the spotlight within the band, no acting like they’re better than the crowd that is there. Just a stadium filled with pure joy and love.
An 11 minute Killing With a Smile medley was what every old school fan dreamed of. It was such a good way to pay homage to the album without having to pick and choose the songs you keep and the ones that don’t make the cut. The spirit fingers were out in full force for this one and as an old school PWD fan that hasn’t been to a show in a very long time, it was so special to see that they’re still alive and well. Winston’s performance of Darker Still alone with his thorned microphone stand was beautiful and the effects throughout the night of pyro, lights and rain made this show a journey for everyone involved. Having only one song from Deep Blue be performed was a little disappointing and there were times it sounded like Winston’s mic was lower than every other instrument so we didn’t always get the most from him but all together, this was a brilliant show. It would be a Parkway show if we didn’t see Ben go upside down with his drum kit, which is always an enjoyable spectacle. The talent it takes to do that is incredible and I honestly never get sick of it. Finishing up the night with Wild Eyes, we saw the band back together on the intimate block stage where they started the show, a perfect way to end, signalling the togetherness of the group. As any long time fan would know, the band has been through their ups and downs but to see them together, having fun, embracing each other, being together, it’s the epitome of what Parkway Drive is. Just a group of friends living out a dream. And what a dream it has become.
This show was one of the best arena shows I’ve ever seen. Parkway Drive showed us there are no limitations on what a “metalcore” show means, that you can have whatever and whoever you want on stage with you. I loved Winston doing costume changes throughout the set, the feelings seeing him shirtless surrounded by flames ignited, and the little dance move Jeff would do as he made his way around the stage and even on the bridge suspended above everyone. A memorable setlist to accompany and outstanding performance, PWD showed that there’s no sign of slowing down. If there’s one thing I took away from this show, it’s that the love Parkway Drive has for their fans and each other pours out of them at every turn. I can’t wait to see them continue to conquer the world and the next time they are back performing in Melbourne.
Peach