Trial Kennedy @ Jive, Adelaide(22/05/08)

Tue 27th May, 2008 in Gig Reviews

It is fair to say that Trial Kennedy are unique amongst the plethora of punk, emo, pop, and indie bands coming for air from cities all over Australia, especially Melbourne. They have a sound, a wall of sound that separates them from much of the clean and over-produced efforts coming from bands that would benefit so much from a bit of a dirt, grunge or aural angst added to their tame efforts at live gigs.

Trial Kennedy’s power, when apparent comes from their vocalist Tim Morrison’s high-powered and beautifully held squall. His voice, along with vocal effects and reverb that are used to manipulate its smoothness come together to form an impressive ‘wall of sound’ counterpoint to their more unsettled and distorted guitar playing and bottom-heavy rhythm section. And this is where you take then band or you leave them. Unlike many compatriots and rivals of the Trial, they’ve taken the influences of bands like At The Drive In and Foo Fighters and kept some of the more impressive and epic elements, instead of resting on jagged, generic tame hardcore as being acceptable.

At this point in time the genre of music Trial Kennedy specialise in, is being bogged down towards a quagmire of too many bands, doing the same thing, without variation or originality. Crowds often seem satisfied with run-of-the-mill pop-skater-emo-punk that draws on the popular influences of the time without expanding at all. The Trial make sure that with their disparate sounds and talented members (especially Tim on vocals who has that something in his vocal power and self-control to focus the bands noticeable talents), that for those of us who don’t find ourselves attracted to the new wave of generic bands in the genre, there are collectives who are trying to give the punters something new.

Coupled with this, and more than worth mentioning is the passion and enjoyment brought by Stacey Gray on guitars whose boundless enthusiasm (of what origin, we can only guess at) just gave that impression that even though their were moments I wasn’t digging at least he made me think I was.

While much of the song writing didn’t expand on the groups sound much there where a few songs that managed to push through to reveal a great riff, or chorus. Newer songs and singles Colour Day Tours and Neighbours where well worth getting a taste of and show that their song writing is acquiring a polish over time.

In the context of a brand of music that has burnt me with quantity over quality and homage over originality, Trial Kennedy managed to keep me engaged in their show and its moving parts. They are a band who already have a Major Release with the support of a major label coming and by no means be surprised if they make it onto nation-wide radio soon.