By admin
Twin Atlantic, accompanied by Fangclub and Pulled Apart By Horses, graced the Portsmouth Pyramid Centre to give one of the most frenetic and intense performances I’ve ever witnessed. The pyramid centre was an interesting venue – a medium sized concert room with a mirrored, pyramid shaped ceiling (hence the name)allowed decent views from any angle and good acoustic and speaker set ups created a brilliant sound quality throughout the room.
Firstly, Fangclub took to the stage to give the first lively performance of the night. Jumping on arrival and unleashing Bullet Head accompanied by a pulsating light show, Fangclub definitely started the carnage of the night. Their distinct sound is reminiscent of early 90’s grunge, whilst blending Green Day with very early Foo Fighters to create a unique sound combined with charged riffs and a vivacious energy.
It’s always hard being the first support act but Fangclub put in a valiant effort, with their pockets of fans interspersed chanting every song back to the band as they worked their way through their set list. Best Fake Friends was a tormented highlight before the band announced this was their first time in Portsmouth, but definitely ‘not the last’ and ending their set on a memorable high with Role Models. Fangclub are definitely a band to watch and it would be great to catch them at smaller venues before they start headlining their own big tours. With a new EP available to pre-order (and some of the best looking merch around) Fangclub are definitely something special.
The Pyramid really began to fill up and buzz with anticipation for the next band, Pulled Apart By Horses. Being a big Pulled Apart fan myself I was definitely looking forward to this one, and they definitely didn’t disappoint. As the lights dimmed a slow low guitar riff gradually rose, reverberating against the high ceiling and shaking the faintly lit floor. Emerging on stage to a raucous cheer was lead singer Tom Hudson – rocking a very fetching green tie-dye tee – went straight up to the crowd, demonstrating just how lively and vigorous their set would be and setting a precedent for how crazy things were going to get. As Pulled Apart By Horses powered through their set relaying classics and performing some new stuff from their album (the new tracks are absolutely incredible). The whole place was bouncing as I Punched A Lion In The Throat came on and their newer songs received just as much love as the classics.
Pulled Apart By Horses dominated the stage, taking every opportunity to interact with the loyal hordes that came to see them and got everyone shouting by asking ‘are you guys excited for Twin Atlantic, fucking hell’ a solid ten times consecutively. A desperate plea for fans to buy merchandise so they could buy some pot noodles and then they launched everything they had into their last song. Hudson lost himself in the crowd and disappeared for most of the song whilst the guitarist clambered his way on top of the largest speaker he could find before courageously jumping off without playing a single chord wrong. By the end of Pulled Apart By Horses there wasn’t a single person not drenched in sweat with tired legs from jumping and generally just having a good time.
As the time approached for Twin Atlantic to come on stage The Pyramid began to get restless, as I made my way through the crowds it was nice to see the diversity amongst the crowds that had come out to support the Glaswegian rockers and the mutual respect everyone showed culminated in a fantastic atmosphere that everyone enjoyed. As the smoke began to settle, a generally excited murmur rumbled through the crowd as the low guitar, similar to the one that appeared before Pulled Apart By Horses took to the stage, heightened the anticipation that was spreading throughout. Before long, the Scottish quartet took to the stage and The Pyramid erupted with screams and shouts as Twin Atlantic launched themselves into Gold Elephant: Cherry Alligator throwing people instantly into the thick of it the first song from GLA. Ferocious riffs coupled with lead singer Sam McTrusty’s animalistic scream ensures the audience know that they’re here for a rock gig and that’s exactly what they’re going to get.
As they begin to throw everything into the second song of the evening, You Are The Devil unfortunately, a fight breaks out in the crowd and as the security clamber in to try and resolve the problem the clearly disappointed McTrusty is forced to stop halfway through. Before starting up from the beginning he poses the question, ‘we all came here to enjoy rock and roll music is that too much to ask?’ and as fans roar back in support the band launches themselves into the second GLA song of the night. The Chaser continues the GLA trend but the lyrics are still sung back at the band with the same dedication and passion as some of the older hits, clearly demonstrating how universally loved GLA is. McTrusty looked like a fully rock God, commandeering the stage in his leather jacket as hundreds of eyes look gaze at him almost hypnotised.
As I make my way towards the middle of the room again I’m pleasantly surprised by the diversity amongst the crowds, whether it’s the six-year-old boys head banging behind me or the middle aged women to my left trying to start a moshpit, it truly demonstrates the longevity of rock music and live music as a whole. As Twin Atlantic break into Yes I was Drunk the crowds throw their arms up as McTrusty goes into deep lyrics and the emotion is thrown back at him as people sing along in their best Scottish tinged accents. I don’t think there was a single person who left the pyramid with their voice; everyone was screaming lyrics to every song at the top of their voices, the performance heightened by Ibiza style lighting that reflected from the glass ceiling. Just after halfway through the set Twin Atlantic drop a stripped back Mothertongue and it reinforces just how good all the songs sound just as good (if not better) as the album versions. During the later part of the show, Twin Atlantic turn it up 11 and the crowd reciprocates this with larger pits, louder voices and lots more dancing.
Playing Heart and Soul and Brothers and Sisters consecutively was an incredible decision, two brilliant songs from Great Divide and whilst slightly softer the crowd still lapped it up; getting livelier by the second. Everyone loses it as McTrusty joins the pits, diving right into the crowd and surfing his way to the middle as Twin Atlantic finish with the anthem that is No Sleep; McTrusty still manages to sound incredibly despite the hands reaching out desperately trying to grab him. As things draw to a close, he looks around the crowds with a sincere gratitude, kissed me on the forehead then proceeded to clamber on top and crowd surf his way back to the front to close the show.
Twin Atlantic know how to put on a fantastic show and Portsmouth was no exception. Both Fangclub and Pulled Apart By Horses did an incredible job in warming up the crowd and putting on fantastic shows of their own and both bands new music sounded just as good as their classics. If you have the opportunity to see Twin Atlantic at any of their remaining shows I cannot recommend it enough, they know how to encourage a great atmosphere whilst still sustaining a solid sound throughout the night, it’s impossible not to have a good time at a Twin Atlantic gig. Hearing so many of the GLA songs live reinforces how they stand up to the older classics and how far Twin Atlantic have come as a band and how they have developed into one of the best modern rock acts of today.
