Have Heart, Carpathian, Vera @Tuggeranong Youth Centre,Canberra, (27/05/09)

Mon 1st Jun, 2009 in Gig Reviews

“CHECK OUT THE PICS HERE!

Proving the age old saying build it and they will come, Boston hardcore boys Have Heart played a sold out show at the Tuggeranong Youth Centre last Wednesday. About a hundred or so teenagers descended on the Youth Centre for the all ages show to see their idols as well as supports Carpathian, and local kids Vera.

The local boys Vera had the young crowd moshing up a storm within seconds of their first song. Although banned at the Youth Centre, the kids quickly moved into a circle pit and began their 2-stepping and arm flares to the beats and breakdowns. It wasn’t long before the band was being manhandled by the eager crowd.

Just about to leave our shores to tour Asia and Europe, Melbourne boys Carpathian wanted to remind us just how freaking awesome they are before they left. Tearing up the Youth Centre with their blistering guitar solos and riotous breakdowns the boys showed the kids just why nearly every major hardcore group that tours Australia adds Carpathian to their line-up. These boys will be back in Australia in August and fingers crossed straight into the studio to give us some more of their meaty hardcore goodness.

Sadly announcing that this would be the last time the band would head down under, Have Heart declared they would disbanding in the fall (our spring). Either all the kids were already aware of this news or too shocked to react as the announcement didn’t seem to come as a surprise. The young fans surely made up for it during the show, proving “No Hardcore Dancing” signs were not enough to deter them from showing the Boston boys their appreciation.

Vocalist Pat Flynn gave props to the other bands and thanked them for their support then proceeded to hand out song dedications to the cool kids (aka a boy in a hot water music tee). He also spent most of the gig complaining about his broken toe, it didn’t help that the “stage” was just a bit of floor in the corner of the room allowing the fans to get up close and personal, showing their love by stomping on his already fractured phalange. Sucking up the pain Flynn had this to say “Woe is me, broken toe is me, Hardcore show is me” and then proceeded into their next track.

A common impression that these teens are angsty, angry and emotional, Have Heart seemed to understand these kids hands down. From the state of any one of the crowd members you could tell that this music really reached out to them and gave them a sense of belonging which would be a foreign feeling to a lot of these teens. Either that, or hardcore is the new black.

Making the room look empty as the crowd surged forward crushing themselves up against one another just to get closer to their idols, Have Heart announced that they only had a few songs left and don’t do encores, so the kids made the most of the time they had left with the hardcore monarchs.

Thanks again Tuggers for supporting all ages hardcore shows, in many other cities the kids don’t get a chance to see the bands they look up to so much until they’re legally allowed to hold a beer in hand in public.

CHECK OUT THE PICS HERE!