For a miserably cold, wet and windy Tuesday, the fact there is a queue at all outside the Cardiff Solus for tonight’s gig is actually heart-warming, and it goes to show the level of commitment fans of alternative heavy music have for the music they enjoy, let alone any band in particular. Tonight’s line up is a thoroughly American metalcore Smörgåsbord, with three bands all equally eager to bring it.
First up tonight, are Californian melodic hardcore-mob BEING AS AN OCEAN [7], who sadly have to make do with the relatively small crowd who came for the early doors. It doesn’t stop them giving it 100% though, with front man Joel Quartuccio spending more time on the barrier than he does on stage. Those at the barrier are clearly true fans, as he delights in handing several members of the crowd the microphone sporadically, each person more than happy to oblige in doing their part vocally. It appears really close knit, and although few in numbers, there’s a sense of genuine gratitude and appreciation from both parties. The set itself is good, quite rough, with the melodic sections allowing slight respite.
The second of tonight’s bands are HUNDREDTH [7], who as a band, define what it means to be dedicated and passionate about creating music, and giving your everything to share that love of music with fans from all around the world. They don’t have a place to stay the night, and are more than graciously collecting tips at the merchandise stall just to get some warm dinner in them, but they are here regardless, because they just want to play, and it’s beyond admirable. For a band to travel across the Atlantic Ocean to join a tour with so little resources, you can’t not respect them and the effort they put into their set. There’s less melody here than with tonight’s openers, but it matters not when you feel how much it means to them having a crowd to play to. There’s a ferocity and honesty to their playing and you know these guys have a future, label or not, they’ll play regardless.
Lastly then, we have tonight’s head liners; Pennsylvania’s AUGUST BURNS RED [7], who have the largest crowd at their disposal, and waste no time in tearing into opening track “Provision” from 2013’s “Rescue And Restore” album. It’s a brutally magnificent onslaught from start to finish, with Jake Luhrs’ vocals tearing through the venue like thunder. There’s barely a moments rest as the crowd slowly turns into one giant mosh pit, the band clearly loving the willingness of the audience to get involved and give it everything they’ve got, Jake even encouraging more and more carnage by sarcastically applauding the fine job security are doing at the front. With both the band and crowd feeding off each other’s energy, it’s a victorious set all in all, and despite the venue being scaled down to reduced capacity for the size of tonight’s show, it makes it all the more intimate and, more of a gathering than a gig. Metalcore, melodic hardcore, whatever kind of subgenre you want to brandish these bands with, it doesn’t matter, the fans are clearly loyal and tonight proves that unquestionably. To many it’s not a scene or a genre, it means more than that, and tonight’s bands epitomize that very notion.
August Burns Red On Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/augustburnsred
Hundredth On Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/HUNDREDTH
Being As An Ocean On Twitter - https://twitter.com/BEINGASANOCEAN
First up tonight, are Californian melodic hardcore-mob BEING AS AN OCEAN [7], who sadly have to make do with the relatively small crowd who came for the early doors. It doesn’t stop them giving it 100% though, with front man Joel Quartuccio spending more time on the barrier than he does on stage. Those at the barrier are clearly true fans, as he delights in handing several members of the crowd the microphone sporadically, each person more than happy to oblige in doing their part vocally. It appears really close knit, and although few in numbers, there’s a sense of genuine gratitude and appreciation from both parties. The set itself is good, quite rough, with the melodic sections allowing slight respite.
The second of tonight’s bands are HUNDREDTH [7], who as a band, define what it means to be dedicated and passionate about creating music, and giving your everything to share that love of music with fans from all around the world. They don’t have a place to stay the night, and are more than graciously collecting tips at the merchandise stall just to get some warm dinner in them, but they are here regardless, because they just want to play, and it’s beyond admirable. For a band to travel across the Atlantic Ocean to join a tour with so little resources, you can’t not respect them and the effort they put into their set. There’s less melody here than with tonight’s openers, but it matters not when you feel how much it means to them having a crowd to play to. There’s a ferocity and honesty to their playing and you know these guys have a future, label or not, they’ll play regardless.
Lastly then, we have tonight’s head liners; Pennsylvania’s AUGUST BURNS RED [7], who have the largest crowd at their disposal, and waste no time in tearing into opening track “Provision” from 2013’s “Rescue And Restore” album. It’s a brutally magnificent onslaught from start to finish, with Jake Luhrs’ vocals tearing through the venue like thunder. There’s barely a moments rest as the crowd slowly turns into one giant mosh pit, the band clearly loving the willingness of the audience to get involved and give it everything they’ve got, Jake even encouraging more and more carnage by sarcastically applauding the fine job security are doing at the front. With both the band and crowd feeding off each other’s energy, it’s a victorious set all in all, and despite the venue being scaled down to reduced capacity for the size of tonight’s show, it makes it all the more intimate and, more of a gathering than a gig. Metalcore, melodic hardcore, whatever kind of subgenre you want to brandish these bands with, it doesn’t matter, the fans are clearly loyal and tonight proves that unquestionably. To many it’s not a scene or a genre, it means more than that, and tonight’s bands epitomize that very notion.
August Burns Red On Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/augustburnsred
Hundredth On Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/HUNDREDTH
Being As An Ocean On Twitter - https://twitter.com/BEINGASANOCEAN
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