PALAYE ROYALE “DEATH OR GLORY TOUR” IRVING PLAZA, NYC – 10/13/24

Photography and Review by Emily McCormack – 

I would cite high school as the time in my life when I discovered a handful of bands that would become part of my identity for the foreseeable future. The brothers of Palaye Royale would be at the top of this list. 

Listening to “Mr. Doctor Man” for the first time in 2017 and never looking back, I knew that I had struck gold in my music discovery. 

Somehow, their performance at Irving Plaza in 2024 was my first time seeing them headline. Previously, I had seen them on Warped Tour and open for Yungblud in 2022. I knew it would be incredible.

This tour had a full lineup of three bands even before Palaye would hit the stage…and wow, did these openers not disappoint. 

The first performer of the night was the absolute powerhouse DIAMANTE. If you’re looking for a dynamic female vocalist to add to your playlists (who completely commands the stage), I urge you to look no further. Listening to her songs on the way to the venue and then experiencing them live, seriously makes me feel like I can do anything. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Speaking of incredible women, mid set, she performed an epic cover of Pat Benatar’s classic, “Love is a Battlefield” (which I later found out is a part of the “American Psycho” Comic Series Soundtrack, also featuring Weathers!).

DIAMANTE invited the audience into a time machine with her 80’s attire and single “1987.” For the duration of her set, I was transported into a decade that has only ever been described to me as something I really missed out on!

DIAMANTE concluded her set with her summer of 2024 single “All For The Glory,” which beautifully matched the theme of the tour.

 

 

I pride myself on two things-checking out the opening band(s) songs and getting to a show early to see them. (Honestly, if you’re going to a concert, this should be the homework you signed up for.) There are three categories of openers for me: Those I already knew coming into the show, new bands I enjoyed but may not listen to again, and unfamiliar bands that blow me away and I don’t remember what life was like before I listened to them. And with this last option, I move into the Weathers portion of my review…

I basically spent the entire Weathers set thinking WOW, I want to be friends with them! Their songs had such dark lyrics with upbeat tones…like their song “I’m Not Ok.” It makes me want to get up and dance but it’s so depressing. So here I am just…contemplating…maybe that was their intention? If so I am happy to give in!

 

 

“ALL CAPS” was popular on the alt-rock charts earlier in the year, so I was excited to play it during my top-alt countdown show Nine of the Times, on WMSC. It was so cool to hear the song live and sing along with the crowd.

I was introduced to their final song “C’est La Vie” during the pandemic, so this was another one of those “I can’t believe how long it’s been and we can finally see live music again!” moments. (Similar to hearing songs on Palaye’s 2020 album – I can’t help but get emotional looking back on those isolating times.)

When the band announced that they would make an appearance at the merch table after the set, as nervous as I was, I knew I would regret not running down there. I had the pleasure of meeting vocalist Cameron Boyer who was such a sweetheart! At the booth, I also purchased the coolest keychain that says “Dressed In Black” (which also happens to be one of my favorite Depeche Mode songs) that I happily added to my camera bag!

 

 

Moving on to the third and final incredible opener…this was the second time I had the chance to catch an I See Stars set in 2024 (they played in Montclair, NJ on The Godmode Tour with In This Moment)!

I looked into their music a bit before the show and Google describes them simply as “Rock.” I suppose you can argue this… but there was more magic to their set than just rock alone. Their music sounded electronic-dance-esque, while their front man Devin Oliver brought an alt-rock-alt-pop meets metal vocals vibe to their songs. (I can only describe Oliver as metalcore Kellin Quinn, which I think is an appropriate comparison.)

They were certainly the heaviest of the openers and got the crowd properly pumped up for what was to come.

 

 

And finally, it was time for the main event.

Palaye Royale opened with my favorite track from their 2020 album The B–stards, “Nightmares.”

It was honestly hard to resist jumping up and down while taking photos (although I may have for a second or two), especially as I felt the movement of the crowd throughout the entire song.

The band’s fifth album Death or Glory was released just a few months prior to the show. While I listened to the album, I was less familiar with the newer songs than I was with the older songs I’d spent years obsessing over. The title track was the second song on the setlist, and hearing it live instantly made it a new favorite of mine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

All night, the stage was set up in a unique way – A riser displayed “DEATH OR GLORY” in lights, elevating both the drummer and another musician. While this looked cool for sure, it was challenging for this five-foot photographer to capture the brothers who, I am assuming, are well over six feet tall each. Front man Remington Leith often switched between singing from the bottom of the stage and jumping up onto the platform (which looked pretty sick when he came back down).

Leith jumped into the crowd a handful of times, singing snippets of songs with fans by the barricade. He even climbed up to a platform on the side of the venue, below one of the upstairs V.I.P. sections.

For as long as I’ve known them, Remington has had a habit of climbing (which has gotten him into trouble a handful of times, making the stunt even more iconic during their shows). Fans knew what to expect when he disappeared for a moment only to reappear on a platform – be prepared to catch him!

 

 

To their excitement, fans in the front row, back of the house, and the upper balcony all had a chance to get a great look at the singer! (Sebastian also had his fair share of leaning into the barricade too – not to mention, soaking the fans and the photo pit in a spray of water pretty early on in the set, haha!)

Hearing “Dark Side of the Silver Spoon” live for the first time, I was finally able to put my finger on what this song reminded me of – it screams of early Panic! At The Disco in the best way possible!

More highlights of the set were “Showbiz” and “Ache In My Heart,” off Death or Glory, and some older tracks like “Dying In A Hot Tub” and “You’ll Be Fine,” from Boom Boom Room Side B.

Some songs are even more intense live than listening to the studio version – “F–ing With My Head” and “Nightmares” are the most notable songs that fall into the category. I would choose to feel these songs over and over again if I had the chance…

 

 

 

 

 

Remington threatened to play just “one more” song about four times towards the end of the night. The band left the stage after “Pretty Stranger,” and returned with drummer Emerson Barrett on bass for a little bit – which was a fun change of pace!

Their encore began with “Dead To Me” from their 2023 EP, followed by “Lonely” from The B–stards. Then, of course, they finished their set with the song that started it all: “Mr. Doctor Man.”

Over the years I’ve realized that a good majority of fans also began listening to Palaye from this track off of Boom Boom Room Side A (2016). This was certainly a way to end the night strong.

 

 

I did miss their usual cover of “Teenagers” by My Chemical Romance! They filled their setlist to the brim with amazing songs from their own discography so they didn’t really need it, but maybe it will make its comeback someday on another tour (fingers crossed)!

Six years after seeing them live for the first time, it was incredible to see how far Palaye Royale has come. Changing up and experimenting with their sound, becoming even stronger musicians, commanding the stage – all while keeping up their infectious energy from the very beginning. They are the real deal.

All in all, the lineup of this night was incredible, from start to finish. Banger after banger after banger. I would run to see any of these bands again and plan to follow Palaye until the end of time. Needless to say, if they announce another show in the area – I will be there…but perhaps next time in platform shoes!

Palaye Royale will support Avenged Sevenfold’s upcoming European tour, you can check out tour dates on their website, and keep up to date with the band via social media!

PALAYE ROYALE –
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