Emery @ Amplifier Bar, Perth(24/04/11)

Wed 27th Apr, 2011 in Gig Reviews

On Easter Sunday, Emery blew away the crowd at Amplifier bar in Perth. It is the first time the band have an done Australian headlining show although they have graced our shores many times before, supporting acts such as UnderOath and Story of the Year.

Supporting the show, I Said the Sparrow opened the night with hardcore riffs and a sound-army of songs. Only a small gathering filled the venue, but those fortunate enough to see these local lads discovered just how talented they are.

Next up were alternative rockers, Chasing the Ninth. Mike Carravicks’ vocals were mesmerising with his effortless leaps from the brutal scream to melodic singing. Despite the lack of enthusiasm from the audience, this band deserves its place on a large stage.

Chasing the Ninth was followed by We are the Emergency, a band that has a large following of their own. The audience immediately woke up when frontman Ryan Lake took to the stage with high energy which continued to intensify until the end. The band successfully warmed the crowd and left them in anticipation for the show to come.

As the four men that make up Emery broke into one of the more popular tracks from their second album The Question known simply as So cold I could see my breath the crowd which had remained quite tame during the opening bands, immediately broke out into screams of passion, jumps powered with excitement, and singing that erupted throughout the mid-sized club. At this moment, it became apparent that Emery are no longer the saviours of emo-pop and post-hardcore as they have been for the past decade or so – they are now a full-blown modern rock force to be reckoned with.

The set introduced Emery’s new album We Do What We Want full of their heaviest and most melodic songs yet. Immediately, The Cheval Glass which sounds like the distant cousin of 2004’s Walls set the tone with the audience. It’s absolutely jarring, as the breakdowns are relentless and quick, but also incredibly soothing with its harmonising and instantly accessible hooks. Followed by the one-two punch of Scissors which saw front man Toby Morrell dance in a way that seemed both confident, relieved, and assured that no one in the audience was judging his performance, everyone was there simply to share his vision and passion. A great deal of respect went out to keyboardist Josh Head, battling a migraine throughout the set, he still managed to keep his energy high.

In the middle of their set, Emery took a break from their electric instruments and played a number of more intimate songs. Pulling up a stool Toby sat down and engaged the audience, introducing Andy Nichols from the band Queens Club filling in on the bass and backing vocals for the tour in place of Devin Shelton, who recently announced an indefinite hiatus from the band in February this year. Armed with acoustic guitars Matt Carter and Nichols launched into an intimate version of The Butcher’s Mouth followed by a classic oldie The Ponytail Parade which quieted the audience from their previous roars.

Emery is known for giving greater meaning to their songs and being open to share them with the audience. Toby had one message he wanted share; “This world would not be the same without you!” realising their music does have an impact on our generation. The Curse of Perfect Days another track found on their new album and performed acoustically, sent a message of hope to the audience of the night.

Dave Powell and Head returned to the drums and keys to accompany the acoustic trio in Listening to Freddy Mercury which was the strongest song of the set. It showcased what the band do best, and are continuing to get better at, a slow soft melody, the song builds acoustically throughout the verse, this sound is later abandoned at the bridge replaced with an electronic instrumental arrangement, which intensifies during the chorus and continues to drive the song to its peak.

The ending of the song was sadly interrupted by security trying to finish the show, the band bewildered and the audience screaming for one last song security relented. Chanting Walls the audiences requests were answered with the boys from South Carolina ending the night with the crowd pleaser song. To make the night even more memorable Head, armed with a mic, climbed on top of the crowd and used them as a platform whilst screaming to the audience, which put the intensity of the night at an all time high.

Though Emery’s set was definitely the highlight of the night, the performances of the opening acts cannot be ignored. Ultimately it was a night filled with passion, drive, and faith. Emery has grown into a modern rock force to be reckoned with, without losing any of their long-time fans.