Excitement and anticipation filled the room in White Oak Music Hall’s Downstairs venue on December 3rd as Prayers’s third and final show in Texas began. With Prayers’s lead singer’s family having their roots in Houston, the show would mark an emotional and memorable chapter in the tour.
Starting the night is the band Death of the Last Beautiful Jaguar, who brought their post-punk and goth style to get the crowd excited for the night full of goth sentiments within their music. With a melodically haunting yet mesmerizing sound, this can be seen especially in the songs “Whispers in The Woods” and “Faces In The Dark.”
The night’s main performance came with the enthralling entrance of Prayers taking the stage as their intro, “Teyphos’weepeehl,” played throughout before they started their performance with the song “Edge Of The Blade.” The night continued with compelling and symbolic lyrics filtering through.
Prayers, led by Leafar Seyer, has brought a unique blend of influences to create a unique sound, merging frosty abrasiveness with more accessible sounds. Prayers’s sound is unique in that it incorporates gothic themes, emotionally intense lyrics, and religious symbolism all in one blend. This blend is especially exemplified in the song “Young Gods Never Die.”
The lyrics delve into a raw exploration of Seyer’s personal experiences, reflecting urban life’s gritty realities. This theme ranges from the struggles and triumphs of his own life to broader societal issues. It is no surprise that a crowd from one of the most diverse cities feels a deep connection with each song.
Having been in the music scene for quite some time, since 2013, Prayers’s fanbase is incredibly loyal, and this can be seen in Reyes’s thoughtful interactions with the fans. He would express his sentiments with certain songs and joke with the crowd. He joked that he only came to Houston for the food and decided why not have a concert as well.
Seyer attention to detail and feeling out the energy would lead to instances in which he would tease certain songs to prepare the crowd for each song better. A heartwarming moment in the night is when he shows that part of his family, who lives in Houston, was in the crowd, expressing his love for them and how grateful he was for their support in his pursuit of being an artist.
Prayers performed songs from their vast discography across albums SD Killwave, Baptism Of Thieves, CHOLOGOTH, and single “Gothic Summer.” Standout songs were “Young Gods Never Die,” “From Dog To God,” and “Ready To Bleed.” The night ended with a deeply emotional song, “La Vida es un Sueño,” meaning, ‘Life is a dream.’ Prayers provided an unforgettable performance with their high-energy, thoughtful songs and deep connection to lyrics.
I am a writer and photographer based in Houston, Texas. I am currently attending the University of Houston as a Marketing major, and a PR and MIS minor. I am passionate about my work through the various creative avenues I use such as writing, designing, and photography. In my free time I enjoy delving into rabbit holes and discovering new things!
