After six years, Envy on the Coast returns for Reincarnation tour

Envy on the Coast | photo by Rachel Del Sordo

Punk, emo and post hardcore band reunion tours might have been the biggest trend in music in 2016. Everyone from Saosin to Thrice to At The Drive In returned to the stage this year. One of the more surprising additions to this trend was Envy on The Coast. The band played their last show in August of 2010 and swore to fans they would never get back together. This year the band reunited with two of its founding members, lead vocalist Ryan Hunter and guitarist / vocalist Brian Byrnes.

As the band took the stage at Union Transfer on Wednesday, it was clear the fans that came out had been waiting the whole six years to see Envy on the Coast live again. The band played through the hits from both their full length albums 2007’s Lucy Gray and 2010’s LOWCOUNTRY, along with their 2006 self-titled EP, and the crowd was singing along the entire time. Midway through the show Hunter announced to fans “this might be the last time you hear a lot of these songs” as the crowd erupted into an angry grown, assuming the band will disappear from the scene for another half decade. He then added “because we are going to be recording new material.” The crowd was very happy with that explanation.

Along with all their old material, Envy on the Coast’s reunion show featured a string of covers, the most notable one being their version of Strand of Oaks’ “Goshen ’97.” This song is a far cry from the style of music the band normally plays, but it sounded great. Throughout their reunion tour the band’s set also featured songs from bands like The Replacements, Third Eye Blind and ever Robyn. Their choices in cover songs shows Envy on the Coast veering off their old sound and exploring new routes.

Envy on the Coast’s reincarnation show stood out to me in a couple ways. It was both a celebration of the music the band had left behind six years ago and a glimpse into what the future will hold for the band. I know I will be here waiting.