Wondering into Brixton for the first time made me feel slightly apprehensive...only because I had left my 'shank' in my other jacket and what I had heard of the area had made me feel naked without it. Would I be knifed, mugged, shot or sexually assaulted? Well...actually, that last one doesn't sound too bad as long as it wasn't a large male thug. To my surprise, there were no muggings or knifings...and later on there would still be no sexual assault. Pity.
Finding myself standing at the front of the neon coated O2 Academy, I felt happy to finally be there to experience it...I hadn't seen its empty gut before. Even more exhilarating was the fact that it had 'BILLY TALENT' glowing on the buildings entrance...awesome. Getting inside seemed like a daunting task as the line ran almost around the entire building! But as soon as the doors opened the hundreds of punks, rockers and emo's (they're people to) started to file into the Academy's gaping jaws. I headed directly to the merchandise stand where I got my grubby paws on a great Billy Talent golf T. From there it was straight onto the bar where myself and my buddy Chris made the mistake of confusing Tuborg as a cidar and ended up with a flat beer-like beverage, should've just gone for the Carlsberg.
The entrance to the main floor leads you onto the sloped standing area...a gentle decline that creates a flow of 'human' towards the stage. The towering stacked speakers seem a little over the top for a venue that isn't thaaaaaat big (in saying that it does hold 4,921, wikipedia is very precise)
The first band to stand up and be counted was Canterbury. Really youthful dudes full of energy. Their sound was quite indie/electro/pop/rocky, now if that was too many descriptives then listen to them yourself and then decide. Next up was the Cancer Bats. All I can say for those dudes is that there was lots of spitting, shouting and jumping around. I would like to suggest to them to seek help and maybe also to visit a speech therapist. All in all the openers were good but if I had to choose who I would see again, I would have to say Canterbury. Congrats, you win a Noddy badge.
The main act. Billy Talent.
It just shows you how amazing they are, after their intro they get straight into it, there energy and presence (remember, just four guys) on stage is massive. The beat pulses through the massive hanging speaker stacks on either side of the stage. The lights rotate through reds, yellows and purples.
D'sa is a magical wizard on the guitar, his face distorted from the anguish of playing almost impossible riff's, sweat flying from his frozen black peak of a hairstyle. Ben Kowalewicz (come on, I dare you, try say that surname) is really funny when not screaming his vocal angst. Especially when he's chatting to the crowd about how we're missing out on halloween festivities...announcing that its all about dressing up like an idiot and watching all the woman dress as sluts which then leads him introducing the next song and saying that it is dedicated to the biggest slut of them all...his Ex.
From Start to finish their energy on stage is awe inspiring, there passion makes you want to live life a little harder, a little faster and with a whole lotta more fun.
Billy Talent...Thank you.
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