Last night I went to see Parkway Drive, supported by a load of Aussie Hardcore bands: I Killed The Prom Queen, Northlane, & Survival. IKTPQ are pretty popular on the scene, I hadn't heard much of any of them besides the headliner though.
I was at the show by myself, my mates either aren't into PWD enough to pay for tickets, or are away at work. So Mum dropped me off at the stadium (HardCore!!). And I walked into a crowd of emo kids and hardcore kids, which are different from your average metalhead as it turns out! Seeing a show on your own has that awkwardness of having no-one to talk to, but the benefit is you don't have anyone to look after either, so I got over that pretty quick.
I watched the first band from mid-way into the crowd - just at that distance where people stop bouncing and stand still and watch quietly, like well behaved patrons of the art. As you could imagine, I quickly had enough of that shit, so pushed forward and ended up about 3 tight rows from the barricade. The roadies worked well so the bands changed over fairly quickly, I watched Northlane and had a good old mosh. Apparently the kids around me had done their research and knew a couple of the songs, either way, a pretty good act, most of the band only about 18-20 I'd guess. one of them had a Batman guitar, which I guess was to match the batman voice so sought after in HC vocals!
IKTPQ were good, their obvious experience set them apart from the younger acts, and everyone else seemed to know the words. I was one row back, with a hand on the barricade at this point, so was getting good and moshy, whilst keeping an eye on the security guards to get a heads up about any crowdsurfers landing on the back of my head. That was a useful technique I picked up. I did pretty well for that, only got someone's foot above my eye which just gave me a small rub-burn, not a kick; and a couple un-expected knees to the cranium. nothing too serious!
A lot of funny shit goes on in the right kind of pit, a lot of bonding moments! This was an all-ages gig though, so I didn't risk bonding too close with most of them! - suffice to keep half an eye on a girl who ended up next to me at one point, who seemed somewhat squashed among the bodies.
The crowd had been chanting for Parkway on and off for a while before the lights finally dimmed, and the projector screen behind the stage began showing a sunrise from space (reminiscent of the famous opening to 2001: A Space Odyssey). The atmospheric opening track to the album ATLAS started playing as the band strided onto the stage.
(I always thought the start of that track sounds just like that Justin Bieber slowed down 800% track But anyway...)
Right from the start Parkway's dominant and clean stage presence, skilled playing, and their powerful music gave them away as the world-class, professional act they've become. They've had amazing success for not just a Hardcore band, but an Aussie band in general! They opened with a couple tracks from the new album, followed by Sleepwalker . A lot of other recent songs from Deep Blue were played, with a healthy serving of older songs scattered throughout.
The screen showing atmospheric visuals of mainly skylines, oceans, and destruction - depending on the song added to the visual experience of the show. But at no point did it seem the band was not enjoying themselves completely. Whether the guitarists and bassists were chasing each other around the stage in their own 3-man circle pit, or interacting directly with the crowd, it's clear Parkway Drive still love what they do, and will be doing it for a while!
I cooled off outside and bought a hotdog before it was time to figure out a way home.
What I failed to realise was that there was a coach shuttling people to the train station. instead I walked there (A-B):
http://goo.gl/maps/Fv6K8
When I arrived, the next (and last) train was 45 minutes away, and so would miss the last connecting train. so I thought fuck-it, and RAN (B-C). Then went back to walking, occaisionally hobbling (C-D). Before getting bored and hailing down a cab the final 1.3km
All this after 4 hours at the front and centre of a mosh pit.
Why? Because I'm Hardcore
(or, possibly, concussed)
I was at the show by myself, my mates either aren't into PWD enough to pay for tickets, or are away at work. So Mum dropped me off at the stadium (HardCore!!). And I walked into a crowd of emo kids and hardcore kids, which are different from your average metalhead as it turns out! Seeing a show on your own has that awkwardness of having no-one to talk to, but the benefit is you don't have anyone to look after either, so I got over that pretty quick.
I watched the first band from mid-way into the crowd - just at that distance where people stop bouncing and stand still and watch quietly, like well behaved patrons of the art. As you could imagine, I quickly had enough of that shit, so pushed forward and ended up about 3 tight rows from the barricade. The roadies worked well so the bands changed over fairly quickly, I watched Northlane and had a good old mosh. Apparently the kids around me had done their research and knew a couple of the songs, either way, a pretty good act, most of the band only about 18-20 I'd guess. one of them had a Batman guitar, which I guess was to match the batman voice so sought after in HC vocals!
IKTPQ were good, their obvious experience set them apart from the younger acts, and everyone else seemed to know the words. I was one row back, with a hand on the barricade at this point, so was getting good and moshy, whilst keeping an eye on the security guards to get a heads up about any crowdsurfers landing on the back of my head. That was a useful technique I picked up. I did pretty well for that, only got someone's foot above my eye which just gave me a small rub-burn, not a kick; and a couple un-expected knees to the cranium. nothing too serious!
A lot of funny shit goes on in the right kind of pit, a lot of bonding moments! This was an all-ages gig though, so I didn't risk bonding too close with most of them! - suffice to keep half an eye on a girl who ended up next to me at one point, who seemed somewhat squashed among the bodies.
The crowd had been chanting for Parkway on and off for a while before the lights finally dimmed, and the projector screen behind the stage began showing a sunrise from space (reminiscent of the famous opening to 2001: A Space Odyssey). The atmospheric opening track to the album ATLAS started playing as the band strided onto the stage.
(I always thought the start of that track sounds just like that Justin Bieber slowed down 800% track But anyway...)
Right from the start Parkway's dominant and clean stage presence, skilled playing, and their powerful music gave them away as the world-class, professional act they've become. They've had amazing success for not just a Hardcore band, but an Aussie band in general! They opened with a couple tracks from the new album, followed by Sleepwalker . A lot of other recent songs from Deep Blue were played, with a healthy serving of older songs scattered throughout.
The screen showing atmospheric visuals of mainly skylines, oceans, and destruction - depending on the song added to the visual experience of the show. But at no point did it seem the band was not enjoying themselves completely. Whether the guitarists and bassists were chasing each other around the stage in their own 3-man circle pit, or interacting directly with the crowd, it's clear Parkway Drive still love what they do, and will be doing it for a while!
I cooled off outside and bought a hotdog before it was time to figure out a way home.
What I failed to realise was that there was a coach shuttling people to the train station. instead I walked there (A-B):
http://goo.gl/maps/Fv6K8
When I arrived, the next (and last) train was 45 minutes away, and so would miss the last connecting train. so I thought fuck-it, and RAN (B-C). Then went back to walking, occaisionally hobbling (C-D). Before getting bored and hailing down a cab the final 1.3km
All this after 4 hours at the front and centre of a mosh pit.
Why? Because I'm Hardcore
(or, possibly, concussed)
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Punk? Who?