Parkway Drive, The Devil WearsPrada, The Ghost Inside, 50Lions @ Brisbane Riverstage(22/09/2010)

Thu 23rd Sep, 2010 in Gig Reviews

Thanks to the staggeringly long line to get into the Riverstage, and the ensuing bottleneck at the entrance, this reviewer only managed to witness the last four songs of openers 50 Lions. With a more traditional hardcore sound than any of the bands playing tonight, the already bulging moshpit took advantage of the Byron Bay crew’s set to get pumped up for the rest of the evening, and the five piece responded duly by throwing out countless gang vocal sections and cranking up the energy levels.

After an amusing intro tape comprising of 2Pac’s California Love_and a choice line from the classic Anchorman film, The Ghost Inside bulldoze their way on stage to the anthemic strains of Unspoken. With a sound that mashes the aggression of Hatebreed with the more melodic guitar lines of tonight’s headliners, the Californians get a huge reaction as circle pits open all across the Riverstage’s massive dancefloor. While their bass drops during the breakdowns may over power the rest of the instruments, the sound stays strong throughout their brief set, with flailing drummer KC Stockbridge keeping the band’s pace up at a marauding level. The only real disappointment is that the constant banter between every song could have cut out and replaced with another tune, but regardless of this The Ghost Inside have without doubt won over a new army of fans in Brisbane.

After disappointing their legions of Australian fans by pulling out of the Soundwave Festival earlier this year, The Devil Wears Prada have huge expectations riding on them. With songs from their latest album With Roots Above And Branches Below slotting in nicely with their older material, the American six piece bring out all the stops over the course of their overly short showing. While frontman Mike Hranica’s voice struggles occasionally with his higher screams, guitarist and clean vocalist Jeremy DePoyster pitch perfect performance is highly impressive to say the least. Old favourite Dogs Can Grow Beards All Over sends the crowd into hysteria, and even though it seems like the breakdowns are occasionally shoe-horned into their tunes, the band is air-tight from a rigorous touring regime and put on a top notch performance.

It’s ridiculous to think how big Parkway Drive have become. For an act that never gets played on commercial radio, it’s inspiring to see how word of mouth and the internet can legitimately make a band hugely successful. With the crushing breakdown of Samsara and the blitzkrieg-paced Unrest opening their set, the sold out Riverstage audience goes collectively bananas. Frontman Winston McCall’s vocals might not be on the best form tonight, frustratingly apparent as his trademark roars fail to cut through the wall of guitars and drums in some spots, but the deafening backing vocals laid down by the crowd makes up for any of the vocalist’s short comings. Older classics like Guns For Show, Knives For A Pro and Smoke ‘Em If Ya Got ‘Em predictably go over like a house on fire, but it’s the newer numbers of the Deep Blue record like Sleepwalker, Deliver Me and Home is for the Heartless that sets the crowd alight.

While many other artists in the hardcore/metal genre may base their performances on aggression and anger, Parkway Drive’s show carries a much more relaxed and fun vibe throughout – you don’t really see an Oompa Loompa crowd surfing in an inflatable dingy at many gigs, do you? McCall’s genuine gratitude and respect towards the huge number of punters tonight is heartwarming and further solidifies the band’s image as very ego-free performers – something that has surely attributed their success.

As the closing one-two punch of Carrion and Boneyards causes mass sing/scream/growl-alongs, this evening’s sold out show at The Riverstage is a perfect example of how huge Parkway Drive really are, and the most impressive part of it all is that they can only get bigger and better from now on in.

Check out the photos from the gig