The Used, Taking Back Sunday, Breakaway, Corpus @ UNSW Roundhouse, Sydney (23/08/2014)
When two of the largest bands in the music scene announce they are going to tour together, there were myriad of expression of excitement and anticipation as the date loomed closer and closer. Now at The Roundhouse those desires will be met face on by said bands and without even entering the venue, already there was a sense of satisfaction in the air, as we all knew that disappointment was never a possible outcome from this event.
Both The Used and Taking Back Sunday hold six highly successful albums under their belt and it was a joyful surprise to see what hits they would draw out in their respective sets. But until then, supports Breakaway and Corpus would have no trouble holding their own in the presence of these musical heavyweights. Welcoming the sea of eager fans into the venue, Breakaway didn’t falter as they gave an insight into the high octane night ahead them. Already collecting a sizeable slew of onlookers, these stylish rockers played with smooth progression and tight timing that definitely gained them new members to join the ranks of their fanbase. Though some may have missed the opening tracks of the band, they made sure to leave a lasting impression with their recent single Invincible. Lead singer Sam Biland unleashed the extent of his range on this anthem heavy number, really getting down to the grit of the chorus as it came around. These boys have been around the local scene for a while and it was great to see a stellar band open up an already exceptional night. |
Next up to the stage is Sydney’s own two piece Corpus. Launching straight into Divine Divinity the duo have crafted their grunge- haste sound with hints of elements of The Used, which is no surprise considering their close relationship to the band. Drummer Jack thrashed about on the drums as he provided backing vocals through his veil hair that masked his face. Complimenting this Kieron screeched through each number while shredding through the riffs that comprise of the heart for each number played.
An amazing sight to see live, this duo’s unique craft has solidified a stable reputation in the scene; their set was nothing short of mesmerizing. Both Kieron and Jack play with an unnatural conviction as they launch from one number straight after another, revealing an aura of confidence in their backlash against consumerism and authority.
Playing true to the music and holding no ties to attention seeking showmanship, as their final number finished, they immediately left the stage, not even taking in the cries of excitement coming from the audience.
Now comes the moment for the night to really kick off, Taking Back Sunday have a history of energy filled performances that push each members to their limits and tonight was no different. Adam Lazzara brought out his more sassy side as he interacted with the crowd and added lib to so many famous classics of the bands. While having John Nolan support his band mate with precise vocals and atmospheric guitar playing.
A fixated crowd, bounced about to recent offerings Flicker, Fade and Stood A Chance but it wasn’t until more classic number were played that the venue erupted with volume from the crowd.
The most notable instance was during Error: Operator not a single person remained still during this number as they were all thrown into nostalgic bliss for this performance. Soon the night reached a point where Adam shared that Sydney held significance for the track Better Homes and Gardens which gave us all a more emotive appreciation for its composition.
Though providing a set with dynamic showmanship, high octane instrumental performances and contagious movements, a moment came where TBS blew our minds. Shining light on the softer elements of their offerings, a tone down version of All The Way made its way into the set and was advanced by spot on lighting and perfectly timed smoke that masked the band for a good portion of this performance. It was almost eerie to only see silhouettes of the band as they powered throughout this particular number.
After calming the masses near the end of the set, it was only appropriate to lift everyone back up in anticipation for the final act of the night. Ending with Make Damn Sure, all who know the rarity of this band visiting our shores soon gave everything to this song. Waves of diehard fans dominated the front of the pits and around the venue, small gatherings of fans made this final song their moment to solidify their love for this band.
Now before we go into what The Used offered, what should be made clear is that while the other bands put on a great performance, what The Used gave everyone at The Roundhouse was an experience that cannot be forgotten.
Opening their set with Cry those who are new to The Used gained an understanding that each track written by this band have centralized themes of romance, society and authority that have been present throughout their whole career.
Bert McCracken stands to be one of the most impressive stage personas of this era. Without any effort he has a natural dominance over the crowd, without question the audience would follow his cues to drop to the ground, jump around and scream to their hearts content. Considering the style in which Bert sings, it was amazing to see how precise his pitch was for the older songs and how on key he maintained to be throughout the performance.
Giving a show that featured a majority of tracks off earlier albums, these numbers have aged so well that the smooth transition between new and old material was seamless. Though, this comes as no surprise for a band that has been present since 2001.
Moving onto the heart of this experience, the show didn’t follow what you’d typically expect from a headliner show. Constant pauses would leave opening to appreciate the moment of the song, passionate speeches added depth to the songs played and casual introductions of family members onto stage to participate really collapsed the notion of a ‘typical’ rock show.
This remained to be the strongest element of The Used, without doubt the band hold immense musical talent and that is evident in the longevity of the band. Revolution was given life due to a strong expression of its core theme; it provoked the crowd to band together for a cause and not to remain stationary during the set.
Such direction may have fallen short with a lessor band but considering many who attended the show grew up with this band and have been shaped by the music, it was no surprise that there was a deeper purpose behind tonight’s show.
Ending the night with a blended performance of A Box Full of Sharp Objects that had elements of Nirvana’s Smells like Teen Spirit and Rage against the machine’s Killing In The Name Of the final number of the night left everyone pale faced and drenched in their own sweat. It was a fitting summary of what The Used represents.
It is a rare treat to have two musical powerhouses touring together (especially in our country) that is why I can say with such confidence that the night had the most intense performances I’ve seen in a long time and was matched by an even crazier collection of fans who will never live this night down.
Scott Singh
An amazing sight to see live, this duo’s unique craft has solidified a stable reputation in the scene; their set was nothing short of mesmerizing. Both Kieron and Jack play with an unnatural conviction as they launch from one number straight after another, revealing an aura of confidence in their backlash against consumerism and authority.
Playing true to the music and holding no ties to attention seeking showmanship, as their final number finished, they immediately left the stage, not even taking in the cries of excitement coming from the audience.
Now comes the moment for the night to really kick off, Taking Back Sunday have a history of energy filled performances that push each members to their limits and tonight was no different. Adam Lazzara brought out his more sassy side as he interacted with the crowd and added lib to so many famous classics of the bands. While having John Nolan support his band mate with precise vocals and atmospheric guitar playing.
A fixated crowd, bounced about to recent offerings Flicker, Fade and Stood A Chance but it wasn’t until more classic number were played that the venue erupted with volume from the crowd.
The most notable instance was during Error: Operator not a single person remained still during this number as they were all thrown into nostalgic bliss for this performance. Soon the night reached a point where Adam shared that Sydney held significance for the track Better Homes and Gardens which gave us all a more emotive appreciation for its composition.
Though providing a set with dynamic showmanship, high octane instrumental performances and contagious movements, a moment came where TBS blew our minds. Shining light on the softer elements of their offerings, a tone down version of All The Way made its way into the set and was advanced by spot on lighting and perfectly timed smoke that masked the band for a good portion of this performance. It was almost eerie to only see silhouettes of the band as they powered throughout this particular number.
After calming the masses near the end of the set, it was only appropriate to lift everyone back up in anticipation for the final act of the night. Ending with Make Damn Sure, all who know the rarity of this band visiting our shores soon gave everything to this song. Waves of diehard fans dominated the front of the pits and around the venue, small gatherings of fans made this final song their moment to solidify their love for this band.
Now before we go into what The Used offered, what should be made clear is that while the other bands put on a great performance, what The Used gave everyone at The Roundhouse was an experience that cannot be forgotten.
Opening their set with Cry those who are new to The Used gained an understanding that each track written by this band have centralized themes of romance, society and authority that have been present throughout their whole career.
Bert McCracken stands to be one of the most impressive stage personas of this era. Without any effort he has a natural dominance over the crowd, without question the audience would follow his cues to drop to the ground, jump around and scream to their hearts content. Considering the style in which Bert sings, it was amazing to see how precise his pitch was for the older songs and how on key he maintained to be throughout the performance.
Giving a show that featured a majority of tracks off earlier albums, these numbers have aged so well that the smooth transition between new and old material was seamless. Though, this comes as no surprise for a band that has been present since 2001.
Moving onto the heart of this experience, the show didn’t follow what you’d typically expect from a headliner show. Constant pauses would leave opening to appreciate the moment of the song, passionate speeches added depth to the songs played and casual introductions of family members onto stage to participate really collapsed the notion of a ‘typical’ rock show.
This remained to be the strongest element of The Used, without doubt the band hold immense musical talent and that is evident in the longevity of the band. Revolution was given life due to a strong expression of its core theme; it provoked the crowd to band together for a cause and not to remain stationary during the set.
Such direction may have fallen short with a lessor band but considering many who attended the show grew up with this band and have been shaped by the music, it was no surprise that there was a deeper purpose behind tonight’s show.
Ending the night with a blended performance of A Box Full of Sharp Objects that had elements of Nirvana’s Smells like Teen Spirit and Rage against the machine’s Killing In The Name Of the final number of the night left everyone pale faced and drenched in their own sweat. It was a fitting summary of what The Used represents.
It is a rare treat to have two musical powerhouses touring together (especially in our country) that is why I can say with such confidence that the night had the most intense performances I’ve seen in a long time and was matched by an even crazier collection of fans who will never live this night down.
Scott Singh