With steady marketing and promotion, the Singularity tour had no trouble selling out for the overage show in Perth with New South Wales’ heavyweights Northlane bringing a team of musicians for this epic CD launch.
Not only were Perth hardcore outfit Statues on the bill throughout the nation, but Stray From The Path from the U.S. and Canada’s Structures made their way down too. The crowd knew they were in for a treat.
The function of local band Statues was too warm up the crowd but the bouncing energy they brought heated things up a little too much. Their sound was heavy on bass with a hectic strobe light ensuring the visuals matched the musicality of the band. Various members of the four-piece walked through the half-filled bar, doing laps and screaming vocals into the faces of uncomfortable punters.
While some of the crowd were moving to the melodic instrumental footing, the frontman climbed the railings of the venue , going wild. While their antics may not have won everyone over, their new song called “Affliction Description” received a clapping reception from the crowd.
Next up were the two international treats for the night, starting with the New Yor kbased- Stray From The Path. It took a song or two to warm the band up but once they got moving, they delivered a crafty hardcore groove to the quickly-filling venue. Lead singer Drew York warned the crowd that the underage shows delivered mental energy – basically setting them the challenge to beat it. York’s raspy voice coupled with the familiar tunes and breakdowns had punters really moving with stage dives and circle pits. Before playing ‘Landmines’, York gave a generic hardcore cultured speech about “not doing what you’re told” and embracing your own prerogative .
Amplifier Bar was filled to the brim, with one of the biggest crowds the venue was likely to have seen. The following band could have been headlining with their sheer quality and crisp delivery.
Structures have been improvising their lineup on their debut Australian tour as vocalist Nick Xourafas had passport issues for the trip. The tour manager stepped up and filled the screamer’s shoes and surpassed many people’s expectations.
The Canadians were mind-blowing setting things off with intro ‘At Las[t]’ and ‘Hydroplanning’ filled with progressive riffs resulting in a head-banging fans. The crowd went wild for Structures who delivered crushing breakdown bursts in tracks like ‘Tunnel Vision’ and ‘Clockwork’. One can only imagine how the show could have been with Xourafas on stage.
Punters secured their spots in preparation to go berserk for the worthy Aussie headliners, who were playing tracks from the album they’re touring Singularity.
Northlane delivered crushing performances with charismatic frontman Adrian Fitipaldes with ‘Worldeater’ and ‘Quantum Flux’ causing a windmill of energy with stage dives and heavy moshing. After the vocalist controlled the crowd, he paid respects for a girl at one of his recent Queensland shows who was rushed to hospital. Nothing could destroy the moods of the show-goers though who gave the band everything they had – a mutual offering. The Sydney-siders delivered high-energy level oldies like ‘Corruption’ and ‘Abrasumente’ which was appreciated by those who has obviously followed the band from their early days.
Closing with Dispossession, Northlane proved that the Perth venue was hilariously small for the spectacle standard they prepared to deliver in addition to the calibre of support artists on the bill. Perth will welcome all of the night’s musicians back with open arms judging by their response on this winter’s night at Amplifier Bar.
