Soundwave @ Blue Steel Oval(2/03/09)

Thu 5th Mar, 2009 in Gig Reviews

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Lining up, tickets in hand, we could hear all the excitement, guitar riffs, double kicks and brutal screams coming from inside the pirate themed venue. This year had a lot going for it, with 6 stages and stunts from The Dudesons and Dirty Sanchez, it was action packed and better than previous years.

UnderOath hit the stage in a frenzy of drums, playing songs from old and new albums, but mainly from They’re Only Chasing Safety and Define the Great Line. Crowd favourites such as In Regards to Myself and Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures had everyone moshing and jumping along. Lead screamer Spencer Chamberlain commanded respect with his brutal breakdowns and demanding stage presence.

Hellogoodbye were on one of the smaller stages, but had a strong following who were dancing and bopping away to the powerpop band. Halfway through the set lead vocalist Forrest Kline’s voice took a turn for the worse and several times had to stop through songs to grab a glass of water and recover his voice. During this time the band interacted with the crowd, making people laugh and just talking, which made the crowd seem more like a large extended family. Highlight of the set was Here (In Your Arms) with added lyrics from Daft Punk’s Digital Love.

Next up were the humorous (but revolting) Bloodhound Gang, emerging with the dancey track Uhn Tiss Uhn Tiss Uhn Tiss where halfway through the song lead singer Jimmy Pop ripped bass guitarist Evil Jared Hasselhoff’s singlet off. Hasselhoff retaliated by encouraging the crowd to call Jimmy Pop a homosexual. Evil Jared then downed a jug of beer, only to throw it back up in the jug, then drink his own vomit, then throw up all over Jimmy Pop.

From First to Last, were very disappointing with new vocalist Travis Richter not able to hit the same notes as previous vocalist Sonny Moore, and thus butchering their old songs. Disappointed fans sat and viewed the band from the grassed area rather than dancing. having had so many line up changes, they didn’t even sound like themselves and the rhythm in Ride the Wings on Pestilence and Note to Self sounded like brand new songs.

As the sun died down most headed over to the main stages or the renamed “metal stage,” one of the outstanding acts had to be Canada’s Silverstein. Lead singer Shane Told got the best of the crowd and demanded a circle pit, and wanted to us prove that “the west coast is the best coast.” They played fast and furious and got the crowd screaming and singing along and played songs from old and new albums highlight was Smashed Into Pieces, a fan request. The crowd was also treated to a brand new song from the forthcoming A Shipwreck In the Sand titled Broken Stars.

See you at next years Soundwave.

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