Page 57 - Black Velvet Issue 95

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RISE AGAINST / SLEEPING WITH SIRENS / PEARS – BIRMINGHAM O2 ACADEMY, 01.11.17
A bill featuring both Rise Against and Sleeping With Sirens is a modern rock fan’s wet dream. Both bands are top notch and we’re surprised
tonight’s show is not actually sold out.
Pears – they’re one of those fruits that you either love or hate. And the New Orleans band by the same name is similar. As the opening act on the
tour, preceding both Sleeping With Sirens and Rise Against, this four-piece is the heaviest band on the bill. But even if you’re not a fan of hardcore
punk, you are likely to be entertained. Frontman Zach Quinn is like an octopus on acid. All eyes descend on him as he stamps and capers around the
stage shirtless during songs like ‘Sycophant’, ‘Snowflake’ and ‘Breakfast’, the latter about the most important meal of the day. In between songs they’re
quite comical, telling the audience, “We’re going to come out and play two more times”. Ending with rowdy riotfest ‘Green Star’, we’d definitely give
Pear a green, or even gold, star for effort.
The last time Sleeping With Sirens were in Birmingham bassist Justin Hills had missed the tour. Happily, he’s now back – albeit with a shaven
head. He’s joined by Nick Martin, Jack Fowler, Gabe Barham and, of course, frontman Kellin Quinn. The energetic set sees Kellin do a couple of high
jumps before his voice takes over and soars even higher. The band are pros on stage making good use of the stage, energetically moving around
while their catchy songs quickly get under your skin. Supporting Rise Against, they have a rather shorter-than-we’re-used-to set, and with new album
‘Gossip’ having just been released, naturally this means that some of their tried and trusted tunes from previous tours have bid us adieu for now.
Songs like ‘Go Go Go’ are currently gone, but ‘Empire To Ashes’ and ‘Legends’ are in the house instead. Kellin opens up before ‘Better Off Dead’,
which goes out to anyone who feels like they don’t belong. He reveals that even he sometimes doesn’t have it altogether. Rhythm guitarist Nick Martin
gets off the stage towards the end of the set and goes for a walk about in the venue, while Kellin goes to the barrier. While some Rise Against fans
may find Sleeping With Sirens slightly saccharine for their taste, we’re definitely not disappointed and would have loved even more.
The last time Sleeping With Sirens were in Birmingham bassist Justin Hills had missed the tour. Happily, he’s now back – albeit with a shaven
head. He’s joined by Nick Martin, Jack Fowler, Gabe Barham and, of course, frontman Kellin Quinn. The energetic set sees Kellin do a couple of high
jumps before his voice takes over and soars even higher. The band are pros on stage making good use of the stage, energetically moving around
while their catchy songs quickly get under your skin. Supporting Rise Against, they have a rather shorter-than-we’re-used-to set, and with new album
‘Gossip’ having just been released, natu-
rally this means that some of their tried
and trusted tunes from previous tours
have bid us adieu for now. Songs like ‘Go
Go Go’ are currently gone, but ‘Empire To
Ashes’ and ‘Legends’ are in the house in-
stead. Kellin opens up before ‘Better Off
Dead’, which goes out to anyone who
feels like they don’t belong. He reveals
that even he sometimes doesn’t have it al-
together. Rhythm guitarist Nick Martin gets
off the stage towards the end of the set
and goes for a walk about in the venue,
while Kellin goes to the barrier. While
some Rise Against fans may find Sleeping
With Sirens slightly saccharine for their
taste, we’re definitely not disappointed
and would have loved even more.
It’s World Vegan Day and who better
to see that animal-loving, PETA-support-
ing vegetarians Rise Against. These guys
are known for speaking out in life and
music on important issues and new album
‘Wolves’ is no different. The inspirational
band choose to open with oldie ‘Chamber
The Cartridge’ from their 2006 release,
‘The Sufferer & The Witness’, before
‘Ready To Fall’, a second song from that
album, one whose video included animal
cruelty footage. It’s only the third track in,
which is actually a new song, ‘The Vio-
lence’, from the band’s latest release. Of
course many of the band’s fans have been
following them for well over a decade, and
the set is quite a ‘greatest hits’ type set
with singles from through the years such
as ‘Prayer Of The Refugee’, ‘Help Is On
The Way’ and ‘Satellite’. The crowd sing
along loudly. The band’s punk rock edge is fast-paced and tough yet with
enough melody to swim right into your heart. Tim McIlrath performs ‘Swing
Life Away’, ‘People Live Here’ and ‘Hero Of War’ acoustically, making a nice
calming section of the show. Lead guitarist Zach Blair joins in mid-way
through to boost up the sound. During the set, it’s easy to notice Tim’s warm
and compassionate smile. He is one of those musicians who genuinely en-
joys playing music and the band’s success has not gone to their heads as
they are down to earth and amicable. Tim tells the audience the band had a
couple of days in Birmingham and went to see a musician at the Symphony
Hall. He laughs that he’s grateful that when Rise Against play acoustically
kids still crowdsurf.
The band’s anthem, ‘Give It All’ is kept till closer to the end of the set, a
bit like a Christmas present that you know is a big one, so you leave it till
last. They wrap things up with the slightly less powerful, but melody-drenched
‘Savior’, packed with ‘whoa’s. Playing right up to the curfew of 11pm, it’s qual-
ity set by the highly admirable band, and a great night all in all.
YYYY
Shari Black Velvet
Tim McIlrath (Rise Against) Photo By Shari Black Velvet
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