A Day To Remember, Set YourGoals, This Is Hell @ TheHi-Fi, Melbourne (23/02/10)

Fri 26th Feb, 2010 in Gig Reviews

The night’s line-up was a triple team of some of the US’ finest hardcore and punk bands with This Is Hell kicking things off to a flying start. Initiating a small but substantial death pit with their very first song, the boys from Long Island were certainly welcomed with open arms. With scissor kicks, head banging, self-created water sprays and a whole heap of movement, the audience quickly warmed to their sound. Their short, fast-paced songs delivered exactly what the genre asks for, making the band’s first venture to Australia a seemingly positive one.

A speedy set change, a sound check and a minute of anticipation later and Set Your Goals’ introduction music filled the speakers. The vibrant six-piece created an instantly active mosh with their mere presence and took to their set with great passion and energy. Engaging their crowd with conversation and singing directly into their depths, they worked the room with a high degree of success. Adding into the mix a solid group dynamic, strong vocals and two very powerful frontmen, it was a set that could have passed as a headlining act.

Half an hour passed before the lights dimmed and the crowd truly delved into a frenzy, but A Day To Remember proved to be well worth any wait. With every beat from the bass drum reverberating through the body, they wowed their audience with synchronised jumps and some comedic ‘Lord Of The Dance’ style moves. Their band unity alone was something tremendous to experience, yet the wonder of the performance far from stopped there.

A constant wave of crowd surfers swarmed the very vocal audience, who echoed just about every lyric and roar that was uttered from frontman Jeremy McKinnon’s lips. The entire crowd was without a doubt there for the sole purpose of seeing them perform; they have earned themselves a remarkable following, and one which is very much dedicated to them.

The set list drew on a collection of songs including Homesick, You Should Have Killed Me When You Had The Chance and their Punk Goes Pop cover version of The Fray’s Over My Head, easily satisfying the majority of the audience.

The quintet from Florida left the room thirsty more, which even their two song encore did not quite quench. McKinnon made a real connection with his fans and held it until he left the stage for the final time, leaving the crowd with that bitter sweet sensation of satisfaction and disappointment at its cessation. It was a night of double-kicker bass drums, flawless vocals, inspiring band interconnectedness and audience participation at its peak.