
Although the Edinburgh support did not quite pack the spacey HMV Picture House in the same way many of the other sell out cities will have crowded their venues, there was still a decent show-out, and those present were treated to a shredding showing of breakdowns and rattling riffs, not to mention the impressively versatile vocals of Kellin Quinn.
This referred to front man arrived on stage to a predictable chorus of deafening screams before kicking off the set with the appropriately named Here We Go.
The opener spared no time in unleashing heavy guitar and bass backings that would become a recurring theme of the concert, really bringing out an instrumental prominence in recently released album Feel that was more notably subdued in the studio recording.
Indeed, if sections of the group’s support had lamented the Americans’ transition from a post-hardcore past to a more radio-rock sound in their latest album, the band quickly moved to dispel any concerns that they had moved away from their roots.
Matty Mullins feature Congratulations followed on the set list, further highlighting the musical purity of the band with a string-splitting solo from lead guitarist Jack Fowler, and heavier tracks The Best There Ever Was and These Things I’ve Done saw the band play hard on beats which perfectly progressed to banging breakdowns.
Quinn’s vocals were particularly memorable throughout meanwhile, and will have left the biggest impression on the minds of those in attendance. The adaptability of the artist really is remarkable; his sweet tuning shown off in soft renditions of If I’m James Dean, You’re Audrey Hepburn and other features from the band’s 2012 acoustic EP, and the raw range of the vocalist unleashed in various other efforts, most prominently past favourite A Trophy Father’s Trophy Son, in which Quinn switches effortlessly from tuneful tones to a stylish scream at the flick of a switch.
Fans may have been disappointed with the group’s decision to omit big singles Feel and Alone from the set list, but an encore calling of signature song If You Can’t Hang was enough to appease anyone in that mindset and cap off an impressive performance with a mass rock out.
A successful showing made predominantly pleasing by the versatility of the five-piece outfit and their captivating lead singer in particular.
Stuart Kenny
As published originally at: www.brignewspaper.com