A last minute decision to grab tickets for the final Slam Dunk show of 2014 ended up being one of my best decisions this year. After showing up early to a gig for perhaps the first time in my life we found ourselves waiting in the queue for a good hour when just as the doors were due to open the heavens poured and soaked everyone through. Filing into the tiny student cafe that was used as a stage last year it didn't take long for the room to fill up and with the line-up being a true pop-punk fest I knew it was going to be fun but I was not prepared for just how amazing every one of the bands were going to play.
Save Your Breath started the night off and by their second song had everyone up on their feet and a rowdy mosh pit going. Clearly more known on their own side of the pond,than when I saw them in February, the crowd had just as much energy and enthusiasm as the band themselves as they played some of their best tracks with their closing song, "Nothing Worth Having Comes Easy," drawing the loudest response.
Jumping on stage next were Decade who played with such perfection and were blessed with the rarity that is good sound showing off vocalist Alex Sears' faultless vocals. They had the room in the palm of their hands for an impressive set of up and coming pop-punk that deserves a lot more attention. There were plenty of people that weren't familiar with the band but plenty more comments about how good they were and going home to download their music asap.
If ever there was a band that could make a room full of ecstatic teenagers go wild it would be the relatively new on the scene Neck Deep. Easily future headline material staying stood up when they hit the stage was nearly impossible. Opening with "Losing Teeth" it immediately became a crowd surfing fest with sweaty limbs flying everywhere right until the end of their set "Over And Over." New songs like "Crushing Grief (No Remedy)" had the floor passionately throwing fists in the air whilst the older "A Part Of Me" was on par with some of the loudest singing i've ever heard.
The last time I saw Hit The Lights I was my sister's age back in '08. As they came on stage their upbeat blend of pop-punk was a welcome change from the previous bands' serious tone. Wave after wave of nostalgia hit me as they played tracks mostly from their Skip School, Start Fights LP. "Breathe In" and "Stay Out" garnered the strongest reactions along with golden oldie "Three Oh Nine."
Finally We Are The In Crowd joined the rest of us in the teeny cafe for their hugest show i've ever witnessed. Every time i've seen them their performance has been better and better but I wasn't expecting just how much better they would be this time around. Opening with "Long Live The Kids" the fire in Tay's vocals were matched by everyone else in the room as we roared back to her, reaching deafening levels when they hit the bridge 'you can't tell us no.' The weirdest stage anyone had apparently ever seen - it was miles back from the barrier with steps and every band commented on it - didn't stop Tay from getting right up in the crowd and ferociously singing "The Best Thing (That Never Happened)" with the rampant crowd. Their fast-moving, intense set slowed down when they played "Come Back Home" for only the third time and we got to hear Tay and Jordan's gorgeous harmonies in real life. They continued on with their high spirited set playing an array of old and new songs 'closing' with "Never Be What You Want" which always garners an electric response. Cardiff is renowned for it's Ferri Chant so much so that the cluster of Cardiff fans at the last Bristol show I went to got the chant going much to Mike's amusement. This time was no exception as the second the fireball of talent left the stage all you could hear was "FERRI, FERRI, FERRI!" Shuffling his way back on stage Mike did a hilarious little rap before being re-joined by his band mates. Launching into "Both Sides Of The Story" the room erupted and stayed crazed right up until the very moment they left the stage after closing their phenomenal set with "Rumour Mill."
