LIVE REVIEW: Trash Boat @ O2 Academy 2, Birmingham

Punk rock masters TRASH BOAT switched things up with their newest album, Don’t You Feel Amazing, incorporating a more hardcore sounding element to their music. Of course this was a big change, but this has made their live performances even more impactful. With three great support acts warming up the crowd for them, this tour was sure to receive a good reception.

First up was Liverpool based metalcore group DEATH BLOOMS who faced a slight challenge with their early set time, kicking off within 15 minutes of the doors opening. With another gig going on at the same venue, queues outside seemed to get mixed up, resulting in a relatively slim turnout for this first act’s performance. However, even with these slight setbacks, the band put on a hard hitting performance, opening with the punchy Shut Up from their newest album Life Is Pain which was only released in October. Vocalist Paul Barrow encouraged the crowd to get moving and start up the pits, which eventually they complied with. The job of the first support act is to wake up the crowd and get them hyped for the oncoming acts, and considering the band consisted of only three members on stage tonight, they still managed to create a huge sound. A standout track being One Release in which the chorus consists of an aggressive shout of “pit, pit, get in the pit!” where if the queues didn’t impact the turnout, would be sure to create quite the stir.

Rating: 7/10

Then entered Manchester-based trio CALVA LOUISE. The members all hail from different areas of the world, but met in London to form the punk band. Throughout the set, the band played songs which featured some Spanish elements which the crowd ate up, and threw in some more aggressive elements every now and then to get the crowd moving. Venezuelan vocalist Jess Allanic made a statement by jumping into the crowd to play a jumpy guitar solo, which the crowd loved, forming a circle around her and all headbanging in time. The band smiled the whole way through their set, making for a joyful atmosphere that the crowd delivered back to them. It was also great to see bassist Alizon Taho in the pit for the rest of the bands’ performance, moshing along with the fans, clearly having a great time.

Rating: 7/10

Any member of the audience who had never heard of STRANGE BONES before the gig, would definitely remember their name from now on. Making an entrance with a set of screens displaying lively visuals placed around the drum kit, the band didn’t waste any time getting into the action. The Blackpool four-piece is comprised of three brothers plus one, making for great chemistry on stage. Visually the members were well styled and definitely all fit the punk aesthetic. The attitude they all displayed only furthered this, resulting in a really entertaining set. Their vocalist, Bobby Bentham, probably spent more time in the mosh pit with the fans than he did on stage. This only made the lively crowd even more active, resulting in pits for every song. STRANGE BONES have worked with previous support CALVA LOUISE before, clearly having a good friendship as they brought out their vocalist/guitarist Jess Allanic to partake in some of their punchy riffs. The band put on a great show, and definitely made their mark, but this wasn’t the last we would see of their vocalist for the rest of the night.

Rating: 9/10

Finally, onto the main act of the night, TRASH BOAT. Opening with one of their strong singles, Silence Is Golden, from their new album, the band wanted to kick off with one of their heavier tracks, getting the crowd going straight away. This paid off, resulting in a mosh pit half the size of the crowd, where there was a mutual understanding that if you fell, you got picked up. These good vibes continued throughout the whole set, with vocalist Tobi Duncan making a couple of speeches about how we should all be accepted no matter what we identify as or for who we want to be, saying, “present yourself however you choose, use what pro-nouns you choose, be whatever gender presentation you choose. Don’t expect a damn thing from anyone else, as you might not get it and you’ll be disappointed. Validate yourself.” These words made the concert feel like a safe and inclusive place, which the crowd really appreciated and presented TRASH BOAT in a positive light. The band also wanted to show off their playful side, with Duncan complaining that the band’s bassist James Grayson never got sweaty at gigs which they envied, in which Grayson responded by pouring a bottle of water over his head. These light-hearted moments make concerts more fun and memorable for the audience, which will only make them want to see the band live again.

The band managed to keep the energy going throughout the gig, by introducing a wall of death for their song Bad Entertainment, and getting every member of the crowd off their feet when STRANGE BONES‘ Bobby Bentham returned on stage to help the band with the breakdown in their track Alpha Omega. This really got the crowd going, and it was clear they loved every second of it. Overall, TRASH BOAT displayed why they have such a dedicated fan base that will follow them through genre changes that no one expected. It’s because no matter what style the song they have created and play for the fans is, they always put on one hell of a show.

Rating: 9/10

Check out our photo gallery of the night’s action in Birmingham from Damian John Photo here: