LIVE REVIEW: Holding Absence @ The Electric Ballroom, London
Marking the end of HOLDING ABSENCE‘s first tour in over two years, as well as their largest headline set to date, tonight is a celebratory affair with a lineup of the UK’s and Australia’s most exciting new bands from across the alternative spectrum. Filing into London’s The Electric Ballroom are near 1600 adoring fans, many of whom will have followed the bands for years and are aching to see their favourites again, or perhaps for the first time.
Opening the evening, fast-rising post-hardcore sextet AS EVERYTHING UNFOLDS are fresh off fantastic sets at both the Download Pilot and Heavy Music Awards and tonight is no different. Opening with a raucous Hiding From Myself followed by an emotional Stranger In The Mirror, they’re firing on all cylinders from the start. Charlie Rolfe‘s vocals soar and snarl atop crunching guitars and pounding drums without any of it being lost. After a brief interlude to thank HOLDING ABSENCE for taking them out on the tour, Stay strikes true with its arena-ready chorus hook before Grayscale brings the house down. You’d be forgiven for thinking they’re a much more seasoned band than one who only recently released their debut album; Rolfe for one is already a star armed not only with a phenomenal range but buckets of charisma. Closing their final show of the tour with an explosive ‘On The Inside’ is proof once more that they’re one of the brightest new bands in the UK.
Rating: 8/10
Despite the constant question marks around international touring, Australia’s YOURS TRULY defied the odds and have made it across the world for their supporting slot. Swirling guitars herald the beginning of their set with a soaring Siamese Souls that’s immediately followed by Composure and a rapturously received Circles. Singer Mikaila Delgado is a blur, bounding across the stage while guitarists Teddie Winder-Haron and Lachlan Cronin bounce and kick their way through the set. There’s a post-hardcore crunch to latest single Walk Over My Grave and its closing breakdown sounds huge even on a relatively small stage. While their enthusiasm can’t be denied, their sound is somewhat thin, possibly due in part to their lack of live bass player and guitars feeling lost under the drums and vocals despite there being two. That said, their exuberance and sheer energy of the songs, as well as a receptive crowd, ensures all is not lost. It’s clear they’ve got a powerhouse in Delgado and that they’re ultimately four friends having a blast playing music together. Nowhere is that more apparent than in closer High Hopes; it’s a joyous celebration of just how far they’ve come in such a short time.
Rating: 7/10
Even from the brooding ambience that heralds their arrival, HOLDING ABSENCE receive a rapturous welcome. Opening with Celebration Song, its cries of “I’m alive” resonate in a thousand throats. It’s swiftly followed by Curse Me With Your Kiss; the band are bringing the heavy hitters to bear from the outset as a stadium-sized Monochrome is greeted by a singalong almost loud enough to drown out the band themselves. They’re on the form of their lives as they rattle off hit after hit, Lucas Woodland’s soaring voice mesmerising the crowd front to back. Guitarist Scott Carey’s screams on Nomoreroses are chilling, and YOURS TRULY’s Mikaila Delgado joins them onstage for an emotionally charged Die Alone (In Your Lovers Arms).
A mid-set drum solo isn’t necessary but the crowd are firmly in the palm of their hands so it doesn’t kill their momentum before Gravity and a soaring Like A Shadow. There’s a beautiful moment as they choose to open In Circles as a minimalist piece of guitar and Woodland’s vocals; phone flashlights and the odd lighter illuminate the stage and the crowd devotedly sings back every word. As fan-favourite Wilt brings the evening to a close, it underscores how special tonight has been. It’s their largest ever headline show in the iconic, sold out, The Electric Ballroom, to 1500 adoring fans, many of whom have followed the band over years. Tonight, their devotion is repaid in emphatic, emotional fashion.
Rating: 10/10
Check out our photo gallery of the night’s action in London from Abbi Draper-Scott here:
