Comeback Kid & Architects @Capitol, Perth (08/12/10)

Sun 12th Dec, 2010 in Gig Reviews

It’s not very often you get to see an all international line-up at a hardcore show on a Wednesday night, especially not in Perth. However due to the pulling power Soundwave touring have established over the last 12 months just such a spectacle was witnessed on Wednesday night. Four of the biggest names in international hardcore on stage at Capitol in front of a formidable and extremely vocal audience. Co-headliners Architects and Comeback Kid delivered fast and furious sets showcasing both their professionalism and high energy stage shows.

Opening duties were given to New York State outfit This is Hell. The band’s extensive touring schedule has made them an extremely tight musical unit, ripping into their brand of driving aggressive hardcore as the audience was still trickling through the doors. The crowd’s reception grew louder as the set drew on, with track Destroyer from their 2010 release Weight of The World showing that the band had a committed Perth following. Whilst the music was full of energy and aggression, their overall crowd interaction was limited, possibly as a result of a near 12-month long touring schedule leaving the band looking tired between songs.

Surprise packet of the evening went to English band Rolo Tomassi whose music was as difficult to define as their Sheffield accents were to understand. In front of near capacity room, the strange spectacle that took almost everyone by surprise began. The band launched into a psychedelic jam conjuring sounds reminiscent of the Doors before instantly transforming their sound into a diabolically heavy metal-core riffs and blast beats. The X-Factor of this band has to be vocalist Eva Spence, who at first glance looks like a dainty young lady somewhat out of place at a hardcore show, until she opened her mouth and released a scream that put many male metal-core vocalists to shame. Even those in the crowd a little unsure about the band’s combination of Jazz fusion and metal were astonished by the vocals, looking on in disbelief. Spence admitted that she was unable to sing any clean vocals as this year’s touring had taken its toll on her voice, however this only prompted the band’s die-hard fans at the front of the stage to sing louder especially during set closer Party Wounds. Before exiting the stage Rolo Tomassi let slip that Architects would be up next.

Although at the top of the bill on all promotion for the tour, England’s Architects hit the stage next, a move that many in the audience seemed to enjoy, paying respect to Comeback Kid as a pioneer in today’s modern hardcore scene. This was Architect’s third Perth appearance within the space of 18 months and their fan base and stage show has grown exponentially with each visit. Whimsical front man Sam Carter was in fine form; joking casually with the audience and ranting about a run in with Korn’s Jonathan Davis. The only thing holding Carter back seemed to be a shoe lace that wouldn’t stay tied (a fact that seemed to bother him so much he may well need to consider a change to Velcro).

Numbers Count for Nothing from 2009’s Hollow Crown garnered a massive reception from the masses turning the Capitol floor into a circle pit. Architects also took the opportunity to preview tracks from their upcoming album The Here and Now. Whilst the band has copped some flak for their change in direction to a more structured sound the new tracks seemed to go over extremely well in the live setting, for which the band seemed genuinely thankful. Finishing their fast and furious set with crowd pleaser Follow the Water these guys showed that they know how to work a crowd and will no doubt continue to enjoy more success upon the release of their new album early next year.

After a short intermission, the lights darkened and Comeback Kid hit the stage with rapturous applause from their loyal fans. There is no doubting that the band had well and truly earned every fan in the venue, this being their 6th trip to Perth in five years highlighting their non-stop touring regime.

Ripping into their set with favourite Partners in Crime it was apparent that tonight’s show was going to be all about pleasing the fans; these Canadians know how to do just that. What followed was a set full of their greatest hits spanning their decade long career from the first song they’d ever written; All in a Year to False Idols Fall from their landmark album Wake The Dead. Material from the band’s latest album Symptoms + Cures fitted in perfectly with the back catalogue, tracks Do Yourself a Favor and gang sing along G.M. Vincent & I sent the enthusiastic crowd into a frenzy that rivalled the reaction to the bands older material.

Axe-man turned vocalist Andrew Neufeld was flawless, showing that the years of non-stop touring have fine tuned his skills as charismatic frontman, encouraging punters to get up close and personal with the band. After singing Happy Birthday to drummer Kyle Profeta the band and crowd in unison began chanting loudly “You said You said You said” initiating the one two punch of Wake The Dead and My Final Goodbye ending the evening on high note. With the reception Comeback Kid continue to get in Australia, we are bound to see them far sooner rather than later. Let’s hope we get to see more gigs showcasing multiple high calibre international talent we’d usually only get to see at a festival in a more intimate and receptive environment such as Wednesday’s show.