I would usually start a review by going into detail about each and every band, but what’s there to say? The first band whose name I can’t even remember comprised of six Welsh scenesters who seemed to have nothing better to do than form a band. The only good thing they had going for them was an awesome drummer who was insulting himself by playing for them. They were followed by rubbishly-named Days In December, a boring Funeral For A Friend rip-off who feel the need to remind you whenever they can that they once got 4 K!s in Kerrang. Hoo-fucking-ray.
A Change of Pace are worth a mention though. Their frontman leaped on stage wearing a t-shirt entitled “Microphones are for singing not swinging” which I think is a suitable summary of the band’s performance. Unpretentious and genuinely happy, they had songs which managed to stick in your head and they knew how to get the crowd going. Not particularly original (apart from their awesome cover of Queen’s ‘We Will Rock You’, really brilliant), A Change Of Pace will beat off the critics by managing good vocals, good guitars, good lyrics, good drums and good basslines. I guess they reminded me of a heavier Story of the Year if I was to compare them to anyone. Good all-rounders, ten out of ten for trying and definitely worth further investigation.
It was strange seeing concept album ‘What To Do When You Are Dead” being performed live by New Jersey’s biggest success story, Armor For Sleep. Their storybook of songs was reinvented tonight by being played in a random order; it was interesting to see each tune being played as a song rather than another chapter of the album. Opening with ‘The Truth About Heaven’, the band boasted the ability to write a modestly beautiful melody overshadowed by convincingly realistic lyrics. Listening to lines such as, “I came down here to tell you, it rains in heaven all day long”, you would be forgiven for thinking vocalist Ben Jorgensen had actually taken a quick bus journey to the pearly gates and back.
Crammed into the Camden Barfly with hot-breathed teenagers in every corner, I still managed to shiver. Armor For Sleep then chose to play my most favourite song by them, ‘Slip Like Space’, a song which has the simply most powerful lyrics I’ve ever heard. Jorgensen sang each word with such passion that every bone in my body believed that I wanted to be with him when he “rockets past the moon”. Armor For Sleep manage to write songs from their heart, both their albums convince you that they write about what they are concerned about instead of what’s fashionably worrying. Broken hearts are forgotten in tonight’s show, subconscious methods of living are remembered.
Each song played tonight was performed with such integrity which is rarely modest for a band’s headlining show. Even though they were obviously stunned by the overwhelmingly positive response of the audience, Armor For Sleep didn’t let it go to their heads. They had chosen their set list carefully, seeming to choose songs that they enjoyed playing as a band rather than picking particular crowd pleasers. ‘Car Underwater’ and ‘Awkward Last Words’ were also particular favourites of mine. Ending the show by saying “I’m sorry if we sounded shit tonight guys”, Jorgensen’s underserved apology washed over everyone’s heads. As for promising to return to the UK in September? I’m counting down the days.
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