Billy Talent @ Billboard The Venue, Melbourne (12/08/2012)
Sunday marked the return of Billy Talent to our shores, in their first visit since playing Soundwave Festival in 2009. This time around, the band played smaller, more intimate shows, and each show on the brief tour sold out well in advance.
Opening with Devil In A Midnight Mass, from 2006’s Billy Talent II, the band kicked straight into gear, as the crowd erupted. Screaming back every word as loud as Ben was singing, it was clear that this was a crowd who had waited much too long for their opportunity to see this band doing what they do best.
Tearing through multiple songs in a row without stopping, Billy Talent were just as energetic and tight as their last tour, having lost nothing in the three years since then. With little time in between songs to catch a breath, the band played hit after hit, drawing mainly from their acclaimed first two albums. Living In The Shadows and Rusted In The Rain prompted massive sing-alongs from the crowd, which just pushed the band into putting more and more energy into their performance.
Known for their energetic live shows, they definitely didn’t disappoint. Ben Kowalewicz is a ridiculously impressive front man, and while he wasn’t as crazy as he was on their last tour, I definitely appreciated how his singing had improved. His stage banter between songs was minimal, but it didn’t seem forced, and just revolved around apologizing for taking so long to come back, and playing on the perceived rivalry between Sydney and Melbourne.
Ian D’Sa is a great live guitarist, never missing a note and playing effortlessly, but it was so weird seeing him drenched in sweat but seeing his hair sit perfectly without a hair out of place. Seriously guys, that’s not very punk.
New song Viking Death March was well received by a crowd who showed no signs of slowing down, almost an hour into the set. Kowalewicz promised that the new song meant they would be back soon, and definitely sooner than the three years it had been since the last time they graced our shores.
Billy Talent finished up the night with two of their most well-known songs, and the volume of the entire crowd singing along was almost deafening. As soon as the iconic intro riff from Fallen Leaves kicked in, the crowd erupted in frenzy, and the sing-along was almost louder than the band at some points. Finishing with the iconic Red Flag, we were reminded again why Billy Talent were one of the best, most energetic bands going around.
Billy Talent have recently been announced to be returning to Australia in February for next year’s annual Soundwave Festival, and I recommend everyone to go see their impressive live show. If you have ever been a fan of these guys over the years, they’re definitely worth checking out.
Josh Mitrou
Opening with Devil In A Midnight Mass, from 2006’s Billy Talent II, the band kicked straight into gear, as the crowd erupted. Screaming back every word as loud as Ben was singing, it was clear that this was a crowd who had waited much too long for their opportunity to see this band doing what they do best.
Tearing through multiple songs in a row without stopping, Billy Talent were just as energetic and tight as their last tour, having lost nothing in the three years since then. With little time in between songs to catch a breath, the band played hit after hit, drawing mainly from their acclaimed first two albums. Living In The Shadows and Rusted In The Rain prompted massive sing-alongs from the crowd, which just pushed the band into putting more and more energy into their performance.
Known for their energetic live shows, they definitely didn’t disappoint. Ben Kowalewicz is a ridiculously impressive front man, and while he wasn’t as crazy as he was on their last tour, I definitely appreciated how his singing had improved. His stage banter between songs was minimal, but it didn’t seem forced, and just revolved around apologizing for taking so long to come back, and playing on the perceived rivalry between Sydney and Melbourne.
Ian D’Sa is a great live guitarist, never missing a note and playing effortlessly, but it was so weird seeing him drenched in sweat but seeing his hair sit perfectly without a hair out of place. Seriously guys, that’s not very punk.
New song Viking Death March was well received by a crowd who showed no signs of slowing down, almost an hour into the set. Kowalewicz promised that the new song meant they would be back soon, and definitely sooner than the three years it had been since the last time they graced our shores.
Billy Talent finished up the night with two of their most well-known songs, and the volume of the entire crowd singing along was almost deafening. As soon as the iconic intro riff from Fallen Leaves kicked in, the crowd erupted in frenzy, and the sing-along was almost louder than the band at some points. Finishing with the iconic Red Flag, we were reminded again why Billy Talent were one of the best, most energetic bands going around.
Billy Talent have recently been announced to be returning to Australia in February for next year’s annual Soundwave Festival, and I recommend everyone to go see their impressive live show. If you have ever been a fan of these guys over the years, they’re definitely worth checking out.
Josh Mitrou