American post-hardcore favourites Sleeping With Sirens are set to make their welcome return to Australia for their first headline shows in over two years this September, hitting up select venues around the country.
The genre innovators are riding high on the wave of momentum generated by their chart-topping, John Feldman-produced new album, Madness, which was unveiled earlier this year to a wave of acclaim from critics and longtime fans alike.
The album quickly rose to a fitting No. 13 in the ARIA charts and was embraced by fans and critics as a bold step forward for this beloved Floridian outfit, while retaining their characteristic instrumental aggression.
To celebrate their visit to Australia, we’ve put together a crash course to the sonic evolution of Sleeping With Sirens in seven songs. More info on the upcoming tour and dates below.
‘If I’m James Dean, You’re Audrey Hepburn’ (2010)
Arguably the song that introduced the band to a larger audience, ‘If I’m James Dean, You’re Audrey Hepburn’ was the lead track from Sleeping With Siren’s debut LP, the highly acclaimed With Ears to See and Eyes to Hear. Riding high on the popularity of post-hardcore/ emo buzz, this single and the record from which it was taken received a lot of praise in particular for singer Kellin Quinn’s vocal styling.
‘If You Can’t Hang’ (2011)
Following on from the sonic explorations of their debut album, the band then released their second full length effort titled Let’s Cheers To This. Let’s Cheers To This and its key track ‘If You Can’t Hang’ is the first introduction to feature guitarists Jesse Lawson and Jack Fowler, who helped the band truly explore the potential of their sound. Fowler is still in the band, though Lawson has since left.
‘All My Heart’ (2011)
Also taken from the band’s sophomore effort, ‘All My Heart’ is an acoustic emo gem punctuated with driving electric guitars. Focussing on the talents of Kellin Quinn and guitarist Jesse Lawson, ‘All My Heart’ solidified the band as one of the heavy hitters in the US post-hardcore music community.
‘Feel’ (2013)
‘Feel’, the title track from the band’s 2013 album of the same name, was the first sign that the band was doing something new on their eagerly anticipated third LP, with an uplifting intro that gave way to a more melodic direction for the album as a whole.
‘Low’ (2013)
Listening to ‘Low’ off 2013’s Feel, it’s not hard to see why the band’s third album isolated some of their original fans, who’d grown accustomed to the less melodic post-hardcore landscapes permeating the band’s previous two albums. Nonetheless, the track encapsulates the new direction that consumed Sleeping With Sirens at the time.
‘Kick Me’ (2014)
Ironically, while Feel saw some of the band’s original fan base walk away, 2015’s Madness, whilst still contentious, managed to win back some of those original fans. Ironically, it was accomplished with a song set that was more pop than anything that came before.
‘Go Go Go’ (2015)
Further illustrating the band’s new pop rock direction is ‘Go Go Go’, one of the singles taken from 2015’s Madness, which features a soaring chorus and numerous melodic trills underscoring the heavy drums and bass.
Australian Tour Dates
Thursday, 17th September 2015
The Triffid, Brisbane (AA)
Sunday, 20th September 2015
UNSW Roundhouse, Sydney (AA)
Monday, 21st September 2015
The Gov, Adelaide (AA)
Tuesday, 22nd September 2015
170 Russell, Melbourne (Under 18’s Matinee)
Tuesday, 22nd September 2015
170 Russell, Melbourne (18+)
Thursday, 24th September 2015
Astor Theatre, Perth* (AA)
