REVIEW: ROCK SOUND RIOT TOUR AT THE GREAT HALL, CARDIFF (11/12/11)
The sold out Rock Sound Riot Tour rolled into Cardiff’s Great Hall for yet another year. Crowds came out and queued to welcome headliners Every time I Die back to Wales.
This year’s line-up featured a mixture of up and coming talent; with the likes of Spycatcher, Defeater, Trash Talk and Every Time I Die headlining the bill
Spycatcher kicked off the show with furious rock tunes which included crowd pleaser ‘Where was you when Michael Jackson died’. Even though they find themselves only playing to a dozen or so punters they still perform with the same ferocity as if the room were filled to the rafters.
Up next is Defeater. The band more traditionally known for their melodic hardcore roots are, however, no strangers to shock tactics, and thus they open with a melancholic acoustic number – ‘I Don’t Mind’ – which is, no doubt, going to be the quietest moment of the evening. Quickly launching into their full force set, frontman Derek Archambault transforms entirely, his vocals thickening with aggression as the rest of the band join him on stage to blast through tracks from both of their full lengths, as well as the odd offering from EP ‘Lost Ground’.
Before the headliners terroriSe the stage, the crowd is on edge waiting for the consistent mosh pits of the evening to kick off. As soon as Trash Talk walked on stage the venue turned into a constant riot, when their menacing intro finishes, and the stark and unforgettable figure of vocalist Lee Spielman appears in front of the crowd, the utter chaos that unfolds is almost entirely anticipated. As bodies fly around the room Lee Spielman stands in the centre of the room whilst a pit circles him in an entirely invigorating display. The songs are ferocious and the live show itself even more so, proving yet again why Trash Talk will always be ones to watch.
Finally this evening, we are greeted with the band everyone has been waiting for, headliners Every Time I Die. The band take on a completely sold out room. Opening with ‘Apocalypse Now And Then’. Sounding entirely loud, their set is packed with everything you’d hope for from such a band; technically thrilling guitar lines, the tightest of rhythm sections; all topped off with that incredible cocky swagger that each of their tracks possess so effortlessly.
The night ends with half the room breaking over the barrier to join them atop the stage for a ‘Floater’ finale, capping off their stop off in Cardiff one to remember.
It was very clear that the audience, made up of young and old enjoyed tonight’s sold-out show. On paper the line up didn’t look spectacular in comparison to the tours previous years but when witnessed live it could easily have been the best tour of the year.
Words and photo: Mike Lewis
