Architects, Comeback Kid @Fowler's Live, Adelaide(07/12/10)

Thu 9th Dec, 2010 in Gig Reviews

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Someone’s got to work on their advertising skills. A gig sold as an Architects headliner but actually headlined by Comeback Kid. Three bands listed on the bill but four playing on the night. Huh-wha? All confusion aside, Tuesday night’s show featuring Architects, Comeback Kid, This is Hell and Rolo Tomassi was an international tour de force.

Surprise act of the night, UK’s Rolo Tomassi kicked off with their signature style of pixie-girl-with-a-scary-voice hardcore. If she hadn’t told us, I would not have guessed vocalist Eva Spence was losing her voice as she growled and screamed with more energy and aplomb than anyone else that night. Rolo’s performance was as frenetic and hysterical as their music. The quintet blasted their way through their set, barely pausing for breath between songs. Tunes off the new album Cosmology, like French Motel and Kasia got the best reception from established fans and definitely earned them some new ones.

When US hardcore punk act This Is Hell took to the stage, they brought a different kind of energy Rolo Tomassi, more inclined to beat you into submission than spin you out of control. This Is Hell played a tight, fast-paced set featuring songs off this year’s Weight of the World and guest vocals from Comeback Kid’s Andrew Neufeld. They managed to snag the interest of a few though sadly failed to garner enough attention to satisfy guitarist Rick Jimenez who spat and roared, “We’ve played some shit shows and this is the worst”.

Headliners without actually being headliners, Architects, took to the stage ahead of a sweaty, restless crowd. Opening with In Elegance, the boys delivered a quality set based on 2009’s Hollow Crown with the title track, Numbers Count for Nothing, We’re All Alone and finishing with sing-along favourite, Follow the Water. Fans were practically frothing at the mouth when Architects played their catchy new track Day In, Day Out ahead of their January 2011 release The Here and Now. Attracting the most punters, the UK act proved their worth with a top-notch performance and high energy.

In nearly their 10th year as a band, Comeback Kid proved things really do get better with age. Opener Partners In Crime signaled the start of a seriously good set featuring crowd favourites Die Tonight, Because of All and Talk Is Cheap. After a night dominated by young acts and younger fans, Comeback Kid delivered a performance that showed Adelaide why they have risen to the top of their game and stayed there.