23 April 2012 (gig)
19 April 2012
It would be just an understatement to say that 2011 was not a fantastic year for Scottish rockers Twin Atlantic. The band sold out arenas up and the down the country and toured with some of the biggest names in music to support of the release of latest album Free.
The band are no strangers to performing in Cardiff as queues formed outside Cardiff’s solus to catch the eager Scottish rockers headline their biggest welsh show to date.
There are few upcoming bands better qualified to kick off an evening’s live music other than ME, and this time around Australia’s finest do a great job of bemusing the many teens crammed in front of the stage. The four-piece deal in big ideas and big sounds, and though it seems to turn off some of tonight’s mob we have no doubt that they’ll have picked up a few new admirers by the end of their set. This is certainly a band to watch out for during 2012.
Up next is Lower Than Atlantis who charge on stage to receive a frantic response from the crowd. The floor literally started bouncing as Cardiff comes alive to the sound of post-hardcore. Keeping the talking to a minimum, Lower Than Atlantis tried to cram in as many songs as possible, including a special mixture of Foo Fighters hits. It’s obvious that Lower Than Atlantis have found their target audience at this show and proved they are destined for bigger things. The band ended their set with the ever-popular ‘Deadliest Catch’. After their set it’s easy to tell that LTA have become the main talking point during the final interval.
As the lights come down, the anticipation is over as Twin Atlantic walk on stage to receive an ear deafening reaction from the crowd in attendance.
Kicking the set off with Yes I Was Drunk', which deliberately causes prompt sing-along in the Solus, arguably louder than the band. Sam McTrusty vocals are the definition of mind blowing, framed by a confident raise of drumbeats and his own astoundingly catchy lyrics all equal the perfect combination.
Twin Atlantic consistently turns up the heat during the set, dropping the newer gems such as 'Time to Stand' and 'Eight Days' allow the band to show off their full potential, while refusing to skimp on their older material, stepping up the pace up with the epic ‘What Is Light? Where Is Laughter. The band is keen to impress the Cardiff crowd and make this the bands most memorable welsh show.
Sam McTrusty is an unorthodox frontman; he does little in the way of showing off onstage, but his voice is so raw, unique and emotive in his songs that you can’t help but stand and admire, especially in tracks that really call for it such as the homely You’re Turning Into John Wayne. Lapping up the audience’s reaction the intense Audience and Audio is still an old favourite, and gets possibly the best reaction of the night – it’s still as strong a track as ever.
After leaving the stage for a brief encore the Scottish heroes return to perform the poignant Crash Land leaving voices echoing all around the venue. Tonight’s closer is album title track Free and provides a stunning glimpse at exactly how good British music can be. Wall-to-wall, Londonders put on their best Braveheart voices and damn near bust a lung in what is quite honestly one of the most memorable singalongs I have ever witnessed.
Twin Atlantic proved with this performance why they are becoming a dominate name in the music industry and why hard work definitely pays off.
