|
 |
Strung Out + Useless ID, STR Adelaide Uni Bar, Mon 4 April "This is a punk show - not an emo show," said Useless ID vocalist Yotam Ben Horam in a vain attempt to get the crowd up and moshing. But, by the time Fat Wreck Chords faves Strung Out hit the Uni Bar stage it was clear that there were still those who love their music loud, and above all love it fast. Local stalwarts STR impressed me with their tight, emotive set. With the exception of vocalist Nathan Humphris occasionally missing the high notes, the band was in slick form as they combined older tracks with songs from their new LP 'Hopes For Hire'. Closer So Close So Far hit hard but didn't quite have the small but attentive crowd moving...yet. I feel really sorry for Useless ID. The Israeli pop-punk quartet, Kris (The Ataris) Roe's proteges, played an honest, fun and energetic set that just seemed to wash over the heads of the gathering crowd. Despite the desperate pleas of an obviously frustrated Horam, the audience just refused to get moving. Come on, people, they made the trip all the way out here: show 'em some love, please! I've never been particularly inspired by the few tracks I've heard of theirs on record, but damn they put on a good show. They left the stage looking a little bitter, and with good reason. While the crowd was polite in their applause, I have a feeling Useless ID were looking for a bit of moshpit action which they were sadly denied. By the time Strung Out were due to start the Uni Bar was bursting. I really had a sinking awareness of its position a few floors up, and in the end just had to trust that the support beams would hold. It was packed; and when that band hit the stage, it erupted. For the duration of Strung Out's hour-plus set the masses were jumping, surfing, ebbing, flowing and rocking. The crowd's intensity was matched and quickly overthrown by Strung Out vocalist Jason Cruz, a man that I would hope to avoid in dark alleys. He's a fantastic performer and had the Uni Bar crowd in the palm of his hand for the duration. The band belted through tracks from throughout their career, focusing proceedings on new LP 'Exile In Oblivion', switching effortlessly from hardcore blast to melodic sing-a-long, interspersed with frequent and scintillating metal-edged solos. Highlight The Exhumation of Virginia Madison had the crowd in throes, and encore Anna Lee was solid punk rock fare. While they occasionally slipped rhythmically, the break-neck speed and powerful breakdowns meant that at least for one night it was again 1998 and Fat Mike was king.  |
|
The latest issue available now!     |
All content copyright dB Magazine