Element Boys of Summer Tour @Albert Hall, Canberra,(20/01/09)

Wed 21st Jan, 2009 in Gig Reviews

Even for the most eclectic reviewer, a hardcore show is always going to be a challenge.

When a reviewer sees a band that they’re unfamiliar with, it’s quite easy to pick up a few lyrics here and there, YouWikiGooglePediaTube it, and then learn a little bit about the band.

Hardcore music, for those of you living under a rock, is not exactly the easiest genre for deciphering lyrics. Rather than patronise you all with my wikipedia skillz, I’ll do my best to report on the awesome sweat-fest that was the Element Boys of Summer Tour, whilst showcasing my utter n00bness when it comes to my knowledge of the bands. Hell, majority of the people who will read this will be well aware of the bands, so do your best to correct any mistakes (grammatical errors however, don’t worry about them).

Opening the night earlier than scheduled was local band Dead Kings. They sounded great from outside, with some awesome blastbeats penetrating the walls of the Albert Hall to my car outside as I parked at about 7ish. Alas, the set was over and done by the time I got to the door. Didn’t the doors open at 730?

Following Dead Kings were Brisbane hardcore stalwarts Against. Remarking early on that it had been a long time since their last visit to the capital (back in the Sound Underground days, which most of the crowd looked too young to have experienced), their – œoriginal’ style of hardcore punk had the older guard looking on in respect, and the young’uns jumping over each other for the microphone, which seems to be as common at the gig as new era caps and sleeve tattoos.

Not that any of those are a bad thing.

Next was Providence, Rhode Island’s (wikipedia skillz) own Verse. Much like Against, their style was very based in the punk side of hardcore, with their lead singer throwing himself around the stage, and quite often into the crowd.

They were fantastic, with a great stage presence and fantastic connection with the crowd, however they were upstaged by fellow Obama-minions Comeback Kid, who upped the energy, and ergo, upped the sweat factor of the hall.

Easily the act of the night, Comeback Kid’s set was unrelenting in its intensity, with the front rows of the crowd copping a battering from the rampant crowd surfers and stage divers, who were also copping a battering due to the lack of depth in the front rows, caused by an encroaching circle pit.

Melbourne’s finest, Carpathian, returned to the capital for the second time in less than three months, and didn’t wait to get stuck into their set. Actually that’s a lie. Lead vocalist Martin Kirby was unable to be found, so the band spent a good two to three minutes on stage in their cat-like states of readiness until he came out of the dressing room.

Looking like a four piece, it was explained mid-set that their guitarist Josh had taken a floor to the knee the night before and was sitting side of stage, all cast-ed up, but still playing.

After what seemed like ten minutes under a warm, salty, shower of sweat, Carpathian wrapped it up, with Kirby sending out a community service announcement for those with depression to seek help, which in all seriousness, was a very cool thing to do.

So there it was, Boys of Summer, been and gone for another year, but if tonight was anything to go by, expect it back again next year with some amazing acts and a whole lot of fun. Even if you aren’t into hardcore, you can still be into seeing chaos.