Parway Drive with Despised Icon, Winds of Plague, Warriors & 50 Lions; London HMV Forum, 25th April 2010
Tonight’s show at London’s HMV Forum could only be described as loud, proud and testosterone driven. With enough break downs to leave even the most experienced slam dancer with a few cramps, this entire evening was over all, pretty ridiculous. (more…)
2 CommentsI kicked off Canadian Music Week last Sunday at one of my favourite live music venues in Toronto, the Phoenix Concert Hall. (more…)
1 Comment 2 CommentsBand: Structures
Album: All of the Above
Release Date: March 15/2010
Production: Jordan @ Sundown Studios, Guelph ON.
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Genre: Progressive Hardcore/Metal
Myspace: myspace.com/wearestructures (more…)
1 Commentfun./Jack’s Mannequin – The Sound Academy, Toronto, ON (Feb.26 2010)
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The Ghost of a Thousand with Feed the Rhino, Shotgun Riot & Turbowolf; 14th February 2010, Purple Turtle Camden
I haven’t been to Camden’s Purple Turtle for years, and never for a live show. There seems no better time that to revisit this old haunt on a drizzly Valentine’s Day to see Brighton’s own The Ghost of a Thousand headline. Produced by Pelle Gunnerfeldt, the genius behind The Hives sound, TGOAT’s 2009 album “New Hopes, New Demonstrations” is one of my favourite albums of last year with tracks which make you dance, cry or smack your best friend in the face.
But more on TGOAT later. Tonight starts late with Feed the Rhino, who look the part, sound the part and vocalist Lee and guitarist James play the part by spending most of the set in the audience trying to rile those around them up. I don’t dislike this band, and on a Friday night I would probably be all over their sound, but the aggressive show before me tonight just isn’t doing the trick. Needless to say I will look them up when I get home, because despite my low mood, I can’t deny they have talent.
Next up is Shotgun Riot. Think heavy classic rock that you can dance to, mixed with breakdowns and a competent screamer. The perfect mix some may say, but it doesn’t translate from page to stage with these guys. Occasionally their tracks come across as staggered and jilted because of the mix of melodies, and they often come off as clichéd in their guitar solos. Their set ends with the all too familiar singing over screaming, which honestly would’ve been better left alone.
Turbowolf is a 4 piece from Bristol and this band is my new favourite of 2010 so far. Their blend of short, sharp, under 2 minute punk songs is just what I love. The vocals are great and the vibe in the Purple Turtle lifts as these guys get into their set. This is a band everyone who likes punk should listen to and one I will certainly be looking out for.
When The Ghost of a Thousand take to the stage their ferocity of their performance in brings new meaning to “appearances can be deceiving”. Drummer Memby Jago is mesmirising to watch (the dude dances and drums) and within the first three songs vocalist Tom Lacey has entered the frenzied fray in front of him and is lifted aloft in celebration and appreciation of the band’s return to London town. Unfortunately I have to leave the show early, but from the heat, volume and excitement pulsating from the depths of the venue onto the street, I can tell this was a show to remember for those still inside.
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August Burns Red with Between the Buried & Me: 13th February 2010, Brixton O2 Academy
Brixton is swamped with metal dudes and scary looking girls tonight. It’s indefinitely because tonight’s show at Brixton’s O2 Academy is headlined by Lamb Of God, whose merch states they are “American Metal”. However for some that’s no biggie and second act openers August Burns red are the appeal tonight.
Tonight’s first opening act is North Carolina’s Between the Buried and Me. They take to the stage to rapturous applause from the small crowd, and as the venue slowly fills, their prog metal core sound turns more heads. They’re warmly accepted by the audience throughout, and even through what felt like a 15 minute finale with some overtly epic guitar solos, but these guys largely impress the early birds tonight. Between the Buried and Me are one to looking out for in the future and already have an evidently impressive fan base in the UK which after tonight is sure to have increased in numbers significantly.
Next up is my highlight of the night, August Burns Red. The Lancaster quintet hugely impressed me with their live show when opening to Bring Me The Horizon last year, and once again they do not disappoint. ABR fill the stage of this 4000 capacity venue with no problem at all and turn more of the audience onto their hard/metalcore sound, particularly through their expert use of sub-bass before breakdowns which turns spines to jelly and never fails to bring a smile to my face. While they go down incredibly well, better than expected if I’m honest, I can’t wait to see August Burns Red headline their own show in a smaller venue later this year, where their sound can send vibrations through the whole building and really get people moving. If you have the opportunity, check out their shows, I can guarantee you won’t be disappointed.
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Album: Anywhere But Here
Artist: Mayday Parade
Release: October 6th/2009
Label: Fearless Records
Producer: David Bendeth
Tracks:
1. “Kids in Love” – 3:36
2. “Anywhere but Here” – 3:09
3. “The Silence” – 3:35
4. “Still Breathing” – 3:52
5. “Bruised and Scarred” – 3:23
6. “If You Can’t Live Without Me, Why Aren’t You Dead Yet?” – 3:38
7. “Save Your Heart” – 3:42
8. “Get Up” – 3:03
9. “Center of Attention” – 3:01
10. “I Swear This Time I Mean It” – 4:01
11. “The End” – 3:37
Bonus Tracks:
12. “So Far Away”
13. “The Memory”
“Anywhere But Here” is Mayday Parade’s second full-length out on Fearless Records, and their first without guitarist and secondary vocalist Jason Lancaster. For the fans who enjoyed his blatant mispronunciations of many words and deeper yet similar vocal approach in comparison to lead singer Derek Sanders’, than you may not enjoy this album as much as their last. With the same basic Mayday Parade songwriting formula, catchy sing-a-long vocals and different approach to the pop-punk genre that has gotten them where they are, their still very much the same band, but with a different spin on their sophomore album.
The songs are all much “poppier”, but are very catchy. There are no songs that really leap off the album to be as powerful or intense as some of their previous songs were, but overall, the album is strong. Despite the albums poppiness, many of the songs have a down vibe to them, such as their second single, “The Silence”, which sounds like it could be straight off an Emery record. The also album lacks a bit of the technicality that their previous efforts had. The drums are much simpler and less creative, and the guitar work is more straight-forward, but that doesn’t go to say that the album is badly written. Its quite the opposite of bad.
Being a Mayday Parade fan for a while now, I’ve seen the band grow from their first EP and onward, and overall, “Anywhere But Here” seems to be their best effort to date. Some songs are stronger and overall better than others, but its an incredibly catchy and addictive album. Its very easy to get into with easily relatable lyrics, catchy choruses that make your hand subconsciously hit the repeat button, and last but not least, intelligent musicianship that isn’t trying to fit in with so many other cookie-cutter bands of the same genre.
Mayday Parade is a band who is definitely playing music for the right reasons and are doing it the way they want, and that is the best way to do it if you want to be successful and respected in the music scene. Mayday Parade are doing just that.
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Counterparts is without a doubt one of my favorite local acts on the scene right now, and from the 3 tunes they have streaming you can tell these guys got some songwriting chops. They recently signed on with Verona Records who will be releasing the album February 23rd, for more details on pre orders go here to Verona’s official site. Be sure to check out their CD release show February 26th @ The Casbah (Hamiltion,ON), all the details can be found on the facebook event page!
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Hailing from Rochester and Syracuse, New York Polar Bear Club has become huge in the hardcore and indie rock scene. With influences deriving from local bands they grew up with, Polar Bear Club has created their own twist on post hardcore and pop punk music which leaves their songs instantly recognizable. Catchy, upbeat and most importantly fun to listen to, the band has accomplished everything an honest band should through their music. Although it takes most independent bands years if anything to come close to finding a label or even releasing a full length, Polar Bear Club has managed all of the above and more. The band was nothing more than a side project when it started and has grown to capture the hearts of pop punk fans around the world. After the release of their first EP, The Redder, The Better in 2006 and their first full length album, Some Things Just Disappear is March of 2008 the band has toured with bands such as Crime in Stereo, Have Heart and Canada’s own Cancer Bats. This soon lead to their signing with Bridge 9 records who recently released Polar Bear Club’s second full length album entitled Chasing Hamburg. They have also released their first music video for the song “Light of Local Eyes”. The video is made up of multiple pieces of live shows from THE FEST 8, in Gainesville, Florida as well as a local show from Orlando.
For anyone who has never heard this band and is a fan of true honest music built around pop punk, they a without a doubt checking out and/or adding to your music library. Their poppy riffs, upbeat drumming, gritty vocals and honest lyrics define what pop punk once was and should still be about today; not to mention their non stop energetic live shows. Polar Bear Club among others are the new face of catchy music, teaching all of us that music above all else should be fun. Punk is back.
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