Rowan Bruce
Despite being the newcomers on the scene, Bristol five piece Perp Walk opened the show with intense old school hardcore energy. With anti-fascist lyrics frothing from the mouth of their frontman Paul Collier and an extreme DIY aesthetic, Perp Walk were the perfect band to begin a night of outright chaos. Featuring a wall of sound from dual guitarists harmonising chugging hardcore riffs and stamina through the roof the band made their first time in Cardiff count, whipping the first few rows of the crowded club up into a frenzy. It’s a rare sight to see this level of fervour for a local support like this; they’ll surely be welcomed back in future with open arms.
Rising stars Big Cheese brought their particular brand of 80s meets modern hardcore punk with an extremely charismatic frontman and energetic duelling guitar riffs. The Leeds-based five piece, who have previously supported big names like Turnstile, brought massive energy and NWOBHM riffs inspired by classic acts like Judas Priest and Iron Maiden with harmonising guitars and thunderous bass. A highlight of the band’s set was breaking out the track ‘T.C.P’ from their first EP Aggravated Mopery, with impressive, technical drums and insanely over the top hardcore antics from frontman Tom Hardwick. Big Cheese are some of the brightest rising stars of the genre and should be seen in the sweatiest, liveliest venue possible. Interestingly, both supports at this show sounded much closer to Fucked Up’s older albums than the ones on their last UK tour (their David Comes To Life anniversary tour early last year) signalling a return to the band’s hardcore roots.
The Toronto experimental hardcore legends took the stage to a packed out crowd, appearing relatively modest for the show with larger than life frontman Damian Abraham dressed simply in a hoodie and baseball cap. Any notion that the band’s performance would be similarly toned down would quickly disappear when they opened with the track ‘Found’ from their latest album One Day. Abraham’s onstage presence is undeniable, even during instrumental sections the crowd’s eyes were transfixed on the frontman, running back and forth across the stage, wrapping his microphone’s cable around his body and sticking crushed water bottles onto his bald head. His infectious energy clearly transferred to the crowd who were similarly flying around in an ecstatic frenzy.
Bolstered by Big Cheese guitarist Maegan Brooks, Fucked Up brought an intricate wall of noise to a well rounded mix of classic hits, tracks from their breakout concept album David Comes to Life and newly released songs. Abraham’s between song banter and audience interaction ranged from sincere calls to action against racism and transphobia, nerding out on other punk bands and asking for recommendations for vegan chip shops. A highlight of the set was the track ‘Lords of Kensington’, an energetic, profound statement against the monopolisation of Canada’s legalised cannabis industry by corrupt politicians while ordinary people are still in prison for selling weed.
The night ended with a call to end violence towards trans people and to protect trans children before launching into the song ‘Police’, one of the band’s earliest singles full of call and response with the crowd. Overall Fucked Up’s set was an electric display of what hardcore can and should be, fully exploring the genre and its use as a powerful tool for positive social change.