Stolen Youth, Paper Arms,Strike Anywhere @ Enigma Bar,Adelaide (15/07/10)

Sat 17th Jul, 2010 in Gig Reviews

CHECK OUT ALL THE PHOTOS HERE.

On the days leading up to this gig I couldn’t help but feeling a sense of déjà vu. Strike Anywhere headlining Enigma Bar touring a new album and to top it off local lads Stolen Youth have deservingly landed the local support again. There was a sense of inevitability that by the end of night punters would be walking down the stairs, sweaty with strained vocal chords and quite possibly a few light bruises.

Before Stolen Youth even took the stage there was a decent sized crowd gathered in front of the stage, suggesting that the respected local lads were reason enough to come out on yet another freezing weeknight in Adelaide. I have seen Stolen Youth a few times over their nine year career but none shows have been particularly memorable. Tonight they delivered a set that was tight full of energy and overall damn satisfying for everyone involved. Songs off the forth coming album that they hadn’t played before were as well received as the well known older material and the crowd only got more and more involved as the set went on. They seemed genuinely privileged to be playing with Strike Anywhere, who they claim to be an influence.

The crowd up stairs had thinned out by the time Paper Arms started up with their brand of slower paced emotion fuelled post hardcore. I wasn’t sure what to expect from Paper Arms but their emotion strained vocals reminiscent of Manchester Orchestra/Devil and the Lion and smart use of rhythm and restraint is a relief from the usual aggression and pace from a lot of the Adelaide scene. The highlight of the set was a very competent cover of *Fugazi*’s Merchandise with a friend from the audience helping out to achieve the dual vocals of Ian and Guy. Whilst the band was not as warmly welcomed as *Stolen Youth they certainly marked themselves as band to keep an eye on and would be more rewarding if you were familiar with their material.

Strike Anywhere opened without much fuss with To The World to crowd that was already moving and almost spilling onto the stage. By the time they got to Timebomb Generation the punters were in full swing, turning the small area in front of the stage into an energetic pit and throwing fists into the air while screaming the closing lyrics “Fall down to rise back up” to anyone and everyone around them. One thing that can be guaranteed at a Strike Anywhere show is crowd participation, front man Thomas will happily pass the microphone to anyone out the front to share a few of their catchy and empowering lyrics. As expected the majority of between song banter focussed on the issues addressed in their songs such as women’s rights, animal rights, anti corporate sentiment and the call for harmony among those in the room to stand up for their own rights and the rights of others. Sadly a lot of what was said was inaudible due to the passive delivery and drone of background noise. The set moved forwardly pretty quickly towards the finally of crowd favourites I’m Your Opposite Number and We Amplify/Blaze.

It is hard not to be taken away by *Strike Anywhere*’s live show. Their successful formula of by the numbers melodic punk/hardcore, catchy chants and the absolute passion and conviction that they deliver their message can bring out the anarchist in anyone and will certainly bring back the people that came to see them next time they grace our shores, let’s just hope its sooner than three years this time.

CHECK OUT ALL THE PHOTOS HERE.