Photo: Janice French
Punk rock gives back to the masses with the Take Action! Tour that benefits the Youth America Hotline (YAH!) They promote suicide prevention awareness, raise money and help to save lives. From Oregon the progressive/post-hardcore band Kaddisfly warms up the growing crowd with clever, natural and thoughtful songs. Innovative sounds permeate their music and come from the oddest places such as plastic flowers. Lead singer Christopher Ruff has a clear epic quality to his voice whilst his performance is aggressive and active. They play the inspiring piece ‘Campfire’ which is filled with surging vocals and drifting poignant instrumental bridges. The band gets people dancing and elicits a rousing round of applause when done.
We rush back from an interview just in time to catch the end of the post-hardcore A Static Lullaby’s set. ‘The Shooting Star That Destroyed Us All’ stirs the rabble up with gnarly rip your face off screamo and contrasting clear boyish verse. People clap along as the melody smoothes out then cheer as it growls and bellows to a climax once again.
People begin shouting “Pouyan” as soon as Scary Kids Scaring Kids sets foot on the stage. Their post-hardcore/pop-punk has a high energy new wave edge to it. The first notes of ‘The City Sleeps In Flames’ incites the audience into bedlam. The moshing, surfing crowd thunders on whilst Tyson Stevens roars and the band head bangs in unison. ‘The Only Medicine’ is like an electric charge as excitement reaches a fevered pitch and the mob sings loudly along. Pouyan stands back then runs, leaps off the stage and does a perfect swan dive onto of the bellowing horde, disappears and is lost. We give him a score of 9.8 on the dive because although it was physically perfect there was a brief moment when we saw fear on his face!
Emery is here. We are hit by ‘Walls’ a forceful, furious and emotion charged piece, the audience loves it. There’s a crush against the rail as the gentle harmonies of ‘Playing With Fire’ kick in. The song intensifies with the crowd’s agitation as surfers spill into the pit. Keyboardist Josh Head leaps into the audience like a madman. Fan’s hold their hands above their heads and make a triangle sign as ‘A Win Win Situation’ comes in on epic instrumentals and sweeping graduated vocals. Plaintive and wanting ‘So Cold I could See My Breath’ finishes off their set as people clap overhead and sing.
Lead singer Ronnie Winter of Red Jumpsuit Apparatus walks out onto the stage and smiles at the shrieking wall of frenzied fans. He gives an incredible performance of ‘Damn Regrets’ with personality and an ease that’s absolutely remarkable. They launch into ‘17 Ain’t So Sweet’ a song about not giving up and following your dreams. Ronnie gives it his all as the audience’s upturned faces sing whilst the mob churns around them. He plays a black acoustic guitar, his splendid warm voice rings out and ‘Your Guardian Angel’ begins. From the top to the bottom of the venue people hold up their cell phones and lighters. Then the whole band kicks in, coloured lights flash and the piece reaches a crescendo.
Ronnie asks “Has anyone in this room been affected by suicide?” About three fourths of the crowd raises their hands. He cocks his head, frowns and says “Tell me that isn’t a problem.” Point made. Their last song is ‘The Grim Good Bye.’ He growls then launches into a long incredible roar. His vocals softly drop as a watery lick ensues then suddenly they pause and it’s as if the world stands still, you can almost hear a pin drop. The audience breaks out of their trance and screams. The vocals return exquisitely building, reaching ever higher till the band begins to roar like a jet engine. The mob chants, our hair stands on end and tears form in our eyes. What an incredible song and freakin intense performance. Wow. Few bands achieve the respect and devotion that Red Jumpsuit Apparatus enjoys. They’ve earned it. Their lyrics are grounded in reality, understanding and hope then delivered in gritty haunting melodies. Well done lads!
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