The air is filled with electricity in Portsmouth tonight, because 3 of the most energetic bands in today’s scene, are making an appearance at the Pyramids.

First up on tonight’s bill we have post-hardcore act LetLive, an American band who have been turning heads with their unbelievable stage show and hard hitting riffs. Frontman Jason Butler seems possessed tonight; halfway through their performance he decides to push his way through the mesmerised audience, before back flipping off a wall. On returning to the stage, he seems to act out a scene from his childhood during the intro to ‘Muther’, “No Dad, I’m not ready to be a man yet” whimpers Jason, you can feel the passion in the air and you can really see why letlive have become one of the hit bands of 2011.

Next up we have UK hardcore band, Your Demise. They enter the stage ironically to the sound of Beyonce’s new single, before reminding everyone that they are far from commercial pop with their first track ‘MMX’. They continue to keep the crowd pumped with more tracks from their latest album ‘The Kids We Used To Be’ before pulling out some old crowd favourites from their 2nd studio album ‘Ignorance Never Dies’. The standout track from their set has to be ‘Burnt Tongues’, hearing the angst filled crowd scream ‘look in me in the eyes, swallow your pride, tell me what you think of me’ echo through the venue filled everyone with adrenaline, and ended with YD frontman Ed McRae jumping on top of the crowd, giving them a chance to vent through the microphone.

The crowd are now buzzing for more action, so when the lights dim ready for Enter Shikari to take to the stage, there’s a frenzy of excited fans waiting in anticipation. Shikari’s intro from their 2nd studio album ‘Common Dreads’ fills the airwaves before being taken over by the cheer of the crowd, upon entry of the band. They kick off with ‘Mothership’ from their 1st studio album ‘Take To Their Skies’, things are going great until guitarist Rory Clewlaw has some technical problems, which forces the band to take a break from the mayhem whilst their guitar tech sorts out the problem. Luckily, this doesn’t take too long and we’re back in the fray with ‘Return To Energiser’ followed by new single ‘Ssssnakepit’, which is to be released on their new album ‘A Flash Flood of Colour’. The lads put on an impressive stage show, it’s almost as if they’ve arranged choreography to compliment the music. This combined with the intense light rig that adorns the stage (which at one point displays the triangle symbol that’s become a emblem for the band) ensures all eyes are on them tonight. Even after an hour, the sweaty crowd are yearning for more, so when the intro to ‘Sorry You’re Not A Winner’ starts, there’s plenty of moshing and crowd surfing going on, followed by the trademark 3 claps. They ‘finish’ their set on a dubstep remix of ‘Sorry You’re Not’ but not for long, as the boys return to perform encore track ‘Juggernauts’ much to the delight of the crowd.

Finally the night comes to a climatic end, with many a smiling face in the crowd. This is the first time I’ve seen Enter Shikari but it won’t be the last because these St’ Albans boys have lived up to the hype and delivered one hell of a performance.

By David Morgan

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Tonight there is a very prominent sense of celebration felt throughout the Wedgewood Rooms, a feeling that comes across from all the bands performing. Talking to Nathan Leone, lead vocalist for ‘Madina Lake‘ before the show he states, ,After the difficulties we, as a band and a family, have gone through this past year, we are really just glad to be back doing what we love,, and they seem it.

The show openers, ‘Super Happy Fun Club‘, are the perfect support for this gig, with a number of light hearted, pop-punk tracks which force the audience to clap along or else tap a toe to. The boys from Chicago bring a huge amount of enthusiasm on stage with them and really get the crowd going as they exclaim, after only their second song, ,This is the first time we’ve played a show in England, and we will definitely be back soon. We love you guys already!,

Next up on stage are Hertfordshire Electro-Rock band ‘My Passion‘, who are well on their way to becoming a headline act of their own, with the crowd more than doubling in the 15 minutes between them and the gigs opening act. This newly established crowd (predominately made up of teenage girls and boys with coloured hair and skinny jeans) waste no time in getting into the party atmosphere of the gig as they jump up and down and sing along to every one of front-man Laurence Rene’s lyrics. The band seemed rather surprised at the enthusiasm of their support, and really made an effort to put on a show for the crowd. Popular tracks such as ,Day of the Bees, and ,Crazy and Me, really provoke a strong reaction from the crowd, which the band replicate, as Rene strips down to a vest and frequently dives into the horde, much to the delight of the screaming girls at the front.

After they leave the stage and the girls at the front end their screams, eventually, the crowd catches its breathe and prepares for the return of headline act, ‘Madina Lake’, who play in the UK for the first time this year following bassist Matthew Leone’s horrific attack on the 30th of June 2010. There is a huge sense of anticipation within the crowd which reaches breaking point as the band come onstage…screaming girls starting up once again. Lead vocalist Nathan beams out at the crowd and states, ,This show is simply about every one in this place having the best time of their lives as we celebrate our return to your beautiful country. You saved my brother, my soulmate and my best friend last year, and tonight we want to thank and repay every one of you.,

The crowd erupts into song as the Chicago rockers open their set which instantly sets the tone for the rest of the night, which involves streamers going off, Nathan leaping from the speakers to crowd-surf, as well as giant balloons filled with confetti being thrown and eventually bursting around the venue and stage. After releasing their third album ,World War Three, on the 13th of September this year, the band seemed to have nailed the set-list with a great mix of new tracks, such as ,Imagineer, and ,Hey Superstar,, as well as old favourites including, ,Never Take Us Alive, and ,Here I Stand,. Naturally, when Nathan asks if everyone would crouch to the ground during the latter and then jump up in unison for the final chorus, they comply, completing Madina Lake’s emphatic return to the UK with a real celebration. ?

Madina Lake seem a band that are really enjoying what they are doing and delighted to be back doing it, and from the crowd’s reaction at the Wedgewood rooms, it appears they have been sorely missed.??

by Pod Howard

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Flogging Molly live at The Pyramid Centre, Portsmouth: what a spectacular and entertaining night! During an interview with Matt Hensley (Accordionist and Concertina player) , he commented on how Flogging Molly always endeavour to put on a great show for their audience, and they all certainly lived up to his remark and proved the point. Dave King, lead singer, an extraordinarily character led the six piece band with great vavavoom; the banter in conversation with the audience in between songs was electric and I take my hat off to him for making us all feel so comfortable to enjoy the night and, in his words, ‘Have the craic!’ (Irish spelling of how we Brits would spell crack).

The gig took me by surprise at first, I was expecting something somewhat different to finding myself squashed up to other sweaty bodies in what they call, ‘a mosh pit’, whilst people were crowd surfing over-head from the back to towards the stage with cans of Guinness flying from the stage into the crowd. It felt to me as mad as a heavy metal rock band gig, but with Flogging Molly’s infusion of punk rock and traditional Celtic music, the atmosphere created by the band and their music was tremendous. The punk rock style to their music is given even more effect by the way in which the band performs, i.e. King, shouting and jumping like a rock star like another Johnny Rotten from the Sex Pistols!

Flogging Molly’s whit was second to none. To recall just a couple of King’s one liners: ‘We’re here tonight at The Pyramids…. just as old as me.’ When introducing Dennis Casey, King said, ‘He has a beard, but not on his face!’ This Irish whit had the crowd eating out of Dave King’s palm; we loved him and his sense of humour. To sum up the overall attitude that was apparent throughout the performance, Dave King optimistically said, ‘Live life to the full and enjoy it! Live each day like it’s your last and have fun! That sounds like a perfect philosophy to me.

The musical standard of the band was extremely impressive. Flogging Molly knows their instruments inside out and plays with such remarkable technique. To not mention Bridget who plays fiddle and tin whistle would be an absolute catastrophe as she knows those instruments like she knows her right leg; not reading from music off a music stand but from her own memory! How she does it I’ll never know! This is obviously expected of professionals, however what had me knocked for six was the way in which she plays with such speed without seeming to have to concentrate on any musical technique.

I think I speak for the whole audience when I say that I left feeling energised and physiologically lifted. Flogging Molly’s sense of fun and stage presence resulted in both the band and the audience having such a hoot! They looked to be having the best time of their lives on stage and this was generated so well down to us in the ‘mosh pit’.

By Tom Cross

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Vastly different bands in one gig don’t always make for a perfect blend but this certainly was the case for the Blackout Gig at the Pyramids. With the light hearted indie pop punk sound of Canterbury and the raw post-hard core growl of the we are the ocean boys supporting the welsh headliners and their lighter approach to post-hard core, it was definite mix of talent that worked on so many levels.

If you have never heard of underdogs of the night, “Canterbury” now’s the time to do so! The guys humbly delivered their upbeat boppy tunes to the delighted crowd. There infectious energy and hilarious stage presence from the cheeky, charming frontmen, gave the room a sugar rush high and their harmony’s made all girls weak at the knees. People who didn’t know their catchy tunes before the show were left singing along to them long after. But don’t just take my word for it, go grab a copy of their newly released album, “Thank you” for free (Yes I said free!) and listen to their pop punk, indie mix of sound.

Following from Canterbury were the well-known 5 piece post-hard core Essex boys, We Are The Ocean. They lit up the stage and livened the crowd senseless with their opening track “Trouble is Temporary, Time is Tonic.” The mosh pits were consistently lively and violent and their most popular track “Nothing good has happened yet”, played mid-set managed to fill the half -filled venue and have everyone moving whether it be bopping, moshing, nodding or singing along. Overall, Liam (Lead vocals) showcased the bands ability to provide a sense of true melodic perfection to the heavy post-hard core sound, rarely getting drowned out by the brutal beat of the instrument. Dan’s (harsh vocals) raw undertone complimented each song perfectly and together their vocals created a unique blend of harmony that is iconic to their sound. Their last song, “The Waiting Room” slowed the pace down nicely but still caused the familiar excitable energy from the crowd. The soft vocals of the song, definitely gave a sense of the content of the newly released acoustic album, which I would recommend fully. An acoustic live taster of one of the songs and the bands closing number of the night, “The Waiting Room”, can be found on Pure Fm.

The headlining act came on; the crowd electrified and ecstatic from their supporting acts. The band arrived onto a stage filled with impressive lights, pictures and logos, with the crowd greeted by the down to earth banter of the band- referring to their home town of South Wales. The songs seemed to fuel the crowd into further crowd circles, mosh pits and dividing the crowd; this proved itself to be successful due to the high energy feel evoking in the middle of the crowd.

While they played some nostalgic tracks like “High Tide”, the voices of the crowd are delighted and sing every word clearly. Newer tracks such as “Higher and Higher”, left the crowds feeling fulfilled with adrenaline rush as gossip of the breath taking experience unhinged outside the pyramids.

Overall the rumble of the amps excited the adrenaline rushed Portsmouth fans after a gloomy rainy day in the coastal town and the bands should be thrilled with their great dynamic performances.

Review by Charly Phillips and Charlotte Gareppo

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