Anti-Flag Colchester Arts Centre 25/08/09
We caught the amazing gig at Colchester for what proved to be an unmissable night!
Middle Class Rut opened the evening with synth waves and sonic feedback. Unfortunately their sound came across a little strained at times. This made it difficult to define what the band is trying to achieve, musically and lyrically. It’s clear there is something there within the songs, with more time the band can find out where they want to go, and what they want to convey to an audience. [6]
As regular Rock Industry readers will know, The Ghost of a Thousand recently appeared at Colchester Arts Centre supporting Canadian punk rockers Fucked Up. Returning to raptus applause, the band took little time to raise the energy of the room. Singer Tom Lacey used the deconsecrated churches pulpit to propel himself across the stage, like a screeching preacher. Band and audience seemed to merge into one. Lacey brought his mic stand into the audience, greeting almost everyone there and made the entire room his stage. By the end of the set guitarist Andy Blyth had mounted the crowd barrier, he flung himself off with mic in hand and sang on top of the audience. The band have clearly been focusing as much on their stage performance as well as their music, both of which are getting better and better. [9]
Exposing the stars, stripes and the dangers of unhealthy obsessions with firearms, was the backdrop to Anti-Flag’s set. The mosh pit soon became all knees and elbow, as the band stormed their way through the songs. With his fist in the air and his middle finger held high, bassist Chris 2 used his politically fuelled fury to get the crowd to chant along to songs such as “You’ve Got To Die For The Government”, and wouldn’t be satisfied until every mouth screamed along. Although the energy was there during most of the set, the political message the band conveys with fervour, during interviews, seems less apparent in their songs and performance. To really hit the message home, the views expressed in the music could be clearer, like their message in print and political actions. [8]
Words: Emma Webb
Pictures: Felicity Matten
Related posts:
