On November 2nd, just as the city finally began to cool down for autumn, Polyphia brought their Remember That You Will Die Tour to Houston’s Bayou Music Center. With a barrage of lights, strobes, and wailing guitars, the instrumental rock band took the stage for their largest Houston show to date.
Hailing from Plano, TX, the progressive outfit consists of guitarists Tim Henson and Scott LePage, alongside bassist Clay Gober and drummer Clay Aeschliman. Since its inception in 2010, the band has been known for its virtuosic guitar styles, with themes ranging from metalcore to progressive rock.
Doors opened at a surprisingly late 8PM, with opening act midwxst kicking off the show shortly after 8:30. A late addition to the tour, only joining for the last handful of shows, the 20 year old rapper from Indiana brought an intimate vibe to the stage, spending much of his set seated looking out over the audience.
Bathed in strong red and blue lights and backed by a guitarist and drummer, midwxst played through a near 45 minute set, encompassing 14 songs from each of his releases, including his debut album, E3.
Just before 10PM, Polyphia took the stage, and after a simple wave to the crowd began to play. With a 20-song set, the band played through tracks off of all 4 of their albums, including 8 from their latest release: Remember That You Will Die.
Known for their complex guitar parts, the band’s two axe-wielders took turns swapping between rhythm and lead, putting all sorts of techniques on display. Stood atop risers, Henson and LePage spent the show stood on opposite ends of the stage, at times jumping down to swap guitars or engage with the crowd.
The band spent much of the show backlit, letting the instruments do the talking, as an array of lights danced over the fans. As the clock ticked past 11:15, Polyphia asked the crowd to open up the pit one last time before closing out the show with G.O.A.T.
Polyphia has made many a stop in Houston over the last few years, so it’s likely that they return in 2024. Remember That You Will Die is available anywhere on streaming, as well as in hard formats.
Check out our interview with midwxst coming soon!
I'm a Houston-based concert and automotive photographer. I've been a music fan my whole life, and previously was the director for Coog Radio, the University of Houston's student radio station. I listen to a bit of everything, from blues to rock to EDM, but predominantly metal. Some favorites include Slayer, Iron Maiden, and Metallica. When I'm not behind the camera, you can catch me skating, going to car events, and buying too many coffee table books.
