On a crisp February night, the 23rd to be exact, fans of Palaye Royale lined up outside of The Orpheum in Tampa, Florida, for the band’s North American leg of the “Death or Glory” Tour. Palaye Royale was supported by two other artists, Rock and Skate, and Johnnie Guilbert.
Rock and Skate opened up the night with high energy, fast riffs, and crisp vocals. The 5 piece band offered boundless energy and a short setlist that packed a punch. Highlights of the set included synchronized guitars and endless solos. Their setlist featured two released songs, “Addicted” and “Chemical”, as well as two unreleased songs, “Feel Alive” and “Moon Girl”, all had the crowd dancing along with them.
The official Emo night might have happened the night before at the Orpheum, but Johnnie Guilbert brought out the emo in all of us. The YouTube sensation turned Musician played to an adoring crowd; fans tossing, bracelets, key-chains, and even a flag with Guilbert’s face onto the stage. His seven song setlist moved the crowd to sing and sway along with him. The crowd echoed his energy and sang along every chance they got, he did a great job warming up the crowd for the night ahead.
Flashes of light lit up the dark stage, the words Death or Glory coming to life under the red lights. One thing about the Las Vegas band Palaye Royale, is they never do anything minimal. A full two tiered stage set-up, fit for drummer Emerson Barrett and a large lower half with plenty of space for Guitarist Sebastian Danzig and Lead Singer Remington Leith to dance across stage. It was only fitting that the band took the stage to their song “Death or Glory”, immediately entrancing the crowd in their addictive energy. They played to every part of the open air venue, standing on the ends of the stage, jumping off the second level of the stage set up, and even climbing the roof of the patio to oversee the crowd. Their sixteen song setlist played to every kind of fan in the venue.
For the lovers of the early days: “You’ll Be Fine” and “Drowning in a Hot Tub.”
For the in-betweens: “Lonely,” “Little Bastards,” “Black Sheep,” “F*cking With My Head,” “Dead to Me,” “Fever Dream,” and “No Love in LA.”
For the Newbies: “Death or Glory,” “Addicted to the Wicked and Twisted,” “Showbiz,” “Dark Side of A Silver Spoon,” “For You,” “Just My Type”
Emerson was given reprieve and came down from his drum set to switch with one of their touring guitarists, to perform Dead to Me with his brothers. After that, the crowd was treated to a piano only rendition of Lonely and had the crowd singing and swaying along. The band ended on a high note, sending the crowd off with “Mr. Doctor Man,” Remington jumping from the stage and into the crowd pit below to end the night dancing alongside Palaye Royale’s fans.
If the question truly was Death or Glory, Palaye Royale ended the night in full Glory.
