Billy Talent / Young Guns / Say Yes

Roundhouse, London on Sun 23rd Oct 2016

I've always wanted to pay a visit to the legendary Camden Roundhouse, and tonight I'm able to tick another venue off of my bucket list as it were. The historic walls of the Roundhouse are certainly sturdy and they need to be as tonight they are in for a good shaking from Canadian punk rock band Billy Talent.

Opening the show are fellow Canadians Say Yes featuring former Alexisonfire and current Billy Talent stand-in drummer Jordan Hastings, who is pulling double duty tonight. The next half hour is very underwhelming, as the three-piece struggle to captivate the audience. In truth there is nothing bad about the performance, and at times it shows promise yet alas it never reaches its pinnacle. Having barely moved throughout the set the best the crowd can offer at its close is a polite round of applause.

Main support Young Guns fare slightly better, but perhaps not as well as they'd hope. With a handful of fanatics scattered amongst the crowd the Brits elicit far greater crowd participation, especially for the likes of 'Rising Up' and 'Bulletproof' which open the set. I did consider Young Guns a slightly strange choice for this tour but this doesn't stop them giving it their all and come the final duo of 'I Want Out' and 'Bones' most in attendance have warned to them. Young Guns though remain for me a band that have never fulfilled their potential in the live arena.

In fairness to both openers, they were unlikely to ever parallel the brilliance of our headliners Billy Talent tonight. This is a band after all that when on form are one of the best live bands touring today. It's clear from the starting shots of 'Devil In A Midnight Mass' and 'This Suffering' that they are on form this evening for sure. From the very beginning it's as if the audience has been replaced to a person as everyone bounces along.

Billy Talent are touring in support of their newest studio album 'Afraid Of Heights' which is their fifth overall, and as such there are numerous new tracks in the set list. But songs such as 'Big Red Gun', 'Afraid Of Heights' and 'The Crutch' garner just as good of a reaction as fan favourites 'Rusted From The Rain', 'Surrender' and 'River Below' do. Billy Talent are nothing if not prolific and it would appear that 'Afraid Of Heights' is right up there with their best work.

As mentioned Alexisonfire sticksman Hastings is currently filling in for drummer Aaron Solowoniuk as he battles illness. Hastings however relinquishes his seat next as Billy Talent welcome a very special guest to the stage in Royal Blood drummer Ben Thatcher who smashes his way through early number 'This Is How It Goes' to the delight of the London crowd which includes bandmate Mike Kerr. Hopefully this appearance means that the return of Royal Blood is imminent.

'Devil On My Shoulder' and 'Viking Death March' then bring the main set to a close before a rousing encore of 'Try Honesty', 'Fallen Leaves' and 'Red Flag' ensures the venue descends into chaos. Billy Talent have built an impressive back catalogue packed full of quality and that now transcends into their live show. Tonight is hit after hit and come the end there are broken bodies and lost voices galore as the crowd disperse into the cool London air.

article by: Paul Barnes

published: 25/10/2016 15:03



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