The Roundhouse, London
25.10.09
It feels strange being at a venue with such an arty feel as hordes of kids circle the outside in anticipation of the brutal onslaught of music that’s about to rain down on Chalk Farm. Security, understandably, look a little fraught. Main support act A Day To Remember behave and are received like they could well be the main event in tonight’s proceedings.
Blasting out their emphatic amalgamation of pop-punk and hardcore, it’s quite easy to see why their record label have pushed the band as ‘pop-mosh’. There is an almighty frenzy in the main space downstairs with copious amounts of circle pits, fists pumping and heartfelt singing and chanting along to the band’s carefully considered catchiness. They put everything into the performance and certainly deliver to a crowd who are rapt on their every move and put as much energy into appreciating the band as the band put into their music making. It feels almost like a joint effort between band and audience and the night is off to a kicking start.
Not to be intimidated or outdone by their stellar support act, Bring Me The Horizon pull out all the stops tonight. Since releasing their ‘Suicide Season’ album last year, this is a band who have toured tirelessly and proved themselves to be every bit worthy of the massive following their music has generated across the world. The stage is set with lit-up letters ‘BMTH’ flashing to the rear and the band’s performance begins with the drums emerging from underneath the stage, hyping the crowd up as if they hadn’t already been going crazy to the band that was on before. Frontman Oli Sykes comes out dressed plainly (in stark contrast to many of the dayglo’d children in the crowd) and launches into ‘Chelsea Smile’ with everyone in attendance shouting out the words almost as loud as the sound system.
The energy in the room is immense and towards the end of the track, Oli launches himself into the crowd. Yep, during the very first song. The drums are on a significantly large riser with ramps going up either side so the rest of the band hurtle around the stage on both levels, meaning you don’t really know where to look, there’s so much going on. Most people present don’t look, they get involved, opening up pits and launching into each other, perpetually crowdsurfing, windmilling and the like. The onslaught doesn’t let up throughout the band’s set and it’s one of those shows that seems so much shorter than it is, just because it’s that entertaining.
Sam Carter from Architects makes a guest appearance for ‘The Sadness Will Never End’ adding yet another facet to the turbulent stage show and getting the crowd even more hyped. Continuing the theme of involving the crowd, Sykes invites everyone to join them up on stage. Kind of a recipe for disaster and things do spiral a little out of control when he’s engulfed by eager fans who manage to make it past the bewildered security. But the night is definitely ended on a high. Actually, it was just a whole series of highs fuelled by the band’s eager and committed performance that has no doubt been honed over their months of touring the world. The hard work pays off. this night was a sight and experience to behold.
Winegums.