We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.
The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ...
Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.
Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.
Knowing that Don Broco were kicking the Rock Sound Riot Tour off meant I was at the venue early. I honestly haven’t done that for years so boys, if you’re reading this, you should feel pretty damn special. Sadly not everyone had the same idea and they performed to a half empty Roundhouse. A fact he was probably secretly pleased about as he went flying across the stage. Apart from this tiny mishap, their co-ordinated dance routines, infectious songs and excellent presence mean they’ll be facing crowds far bigger than this soon.
Awolnation are, what can only be described as, a genre-spanner. But my word, they’re good at it. They somehow manage to skip from electronica to post-hardcore and reference everything else in between. Yet Aaron Bruno still manages to make it all perfectly coherent. A feat few bands can actually pull off and these guys do it with aplomb.
When Billy Talent hot the stage the crowd went wild and unsurprisingly they dived straight into their set. You don’t get a crazy floorshow or any microphone acrobatics with Billy Talent and you know why? You just don’t need it. They play perfect, passionate punk rock and their fans idolise them for it.
Every word that fell from Ben Kowalewicz’s lips the crowd sang right back at him. Unrelenting hero worship, right from opener Lonely Road all the way through to the encore of Fallen Leaves, Surprise Surprise and Red Flag. If you’ve seen Billy Talent play before, there was absolutely nothing that would surprise you, but then again, why change something that works so well?
In an unusual, but rather touching moment, Kowalewicz drew everyone’s attention to it being Remembrance Day and dedicated The Navy Song to “everyone’s granddad who fought in the war”. I’m pretty sure this is the first gig I’ve ever been to where grandparents got one of the largest cheers of the night.
All in all, The Rock Sound Riot tour had a great selection of bands that really complimented each other well but at the end of the day we were there to revel in the greatness of Billy Talent and revel we did!
Venue: The Roundhouse, London
Support Band: Don Broco, Awolnation