Protest the Hero at Underworld
Protest The Hero – Underworld Camden – 17 August 2009
Support: What The Night Brings & Lower Than Atlantis
Words by Ian Dickinson / Photos by Marcus Maschwitz
What The Night Brings sadly fail to make any impact on the audience or myself. To my surprise even the younger members of the crowd, who as a rule, go uncontrollably insane for anything fast are unmoved and unfazed by WTNB. Lower Than Atlantis take to the stage and set up in record time, much to everyone’s approval and admiration. With the release of their first full length on the horizon this is my first encounter with their new material. It is certainly more punk than their first release; the Bretton EP was straight up brutal hardcore. It seems more sentimental which is ideal for the unique style and range of lead singer Mike. The set doesn’t get off to a great start, the crowd seem unimpressed, aside from 3 fans at the front that mosh out instantly, they are later rewarded with a song dedicated to their enthusiasm. The mic stand becomes an inanimate nuisance as Mike becomes noticeably frustrated with its annoying shenanigans. As the set builds in intensity so to does the atmosphere in the venue, like punk rock vampires LTA feed of the excitement and start playing with even greater ferocity.
Screaming into the Underworld without the mic adds to the raw and genuine emotion that you can see in Mike’s expression. He appears as though he is on the verge of passing out with the amount of passion he packs into each vocal projected from his mouth. LTA come across as hard rocking, hard partying, down to earth guys devoting one track to “all those on the dole who still party!” It gets really hectic when unruly party favourite The Juggernaut concludes the set as the band invite members of the crowd to get on stage and get diving. One young gentleman almost decapitates himself on the air conditioning vent in the ceiling. This is only a precursor of what is to follow.
This is my first Protest The Hero gig and I am assured by one and all that I am in for a real treat. They weren’t wrong! PTH take a long time setting up and sound checking. The Underworld is rammed with fans waiting to see them. The crowd start to become restless. People around me are getting seriously pissed off. A chant of “Protest!” fills the venue and the band finally crash into the first track Bloodmeat. Instantaneously heads are moshing, pits are circling and chants are brewing . All is forgiven and forgotten as the whole venue starts moving to the incredibly unique sound that only PTH possess.
The first thing that strikes me is the intense and confident stage presence of lead singer Rody Walker. Walker’s voice is one in a million; effortlessly brilliant he switches from a grand theatrical delivery to a hardcore chest pounding growl. The breakdowns are monumental and Mo Carlson’s drums vibrate all the way through my Van’s and into my chest. It is clear that this band are tight musically and emotionally which is not surprising considering they have been playing music together since the age of 12. Another unmistakable aspect of PTH is their technical ability, which literally leaves me speechless at times. I don’t even know how to explain some of the guitar wizardry of Tim Millar and Luke Hoskin without needing to employ a research team to work around the clock in a secret laboratory underneath a volcano until enough is understood that I can produce a well rounded PowerPoint Presentation.
It is a pleasure to be at a show without security or barriers. The line between PTH and the audience becomes blurred and a greater connection is built between the two until the venue is in unison, all in pursuit of rocking out and having a good time! 3 tracks in and the crowd surfing has fully begun and the pit is bouncing like a 5 year old Pepsi addict on a trampoline. The first stage diver skillfully misses the air condition vent but manages to clip the lighting. Walker conducts the insanity and never seems phased by the sweaty fans jumping on stage and on him. At one point a perspiring semi naked adolescent stands quietly next to him on stage till the room falls silent. The young chap claims to be Macho Man Randy Savage before the conversation turns to masturbation, fisting and Goth porn, always an unexpected bonus when one is attending an evening of music. After this brief comedy interlude the band jumps straight back into obliterating Camden. At one point in the evening I am convinced that the Underworld will be in pieces by the end of the night, as the floor, ceiling and walls all take a pounding. Walker explains that his “temper is short” after reprimanding a fan who is continuously swinging at him; “your pissing me off with your windmills. I thought I was at a Trivium show!” Everyone is highly amused by this comment. The banter and crowd interaction between tracks is welcome and entertaining. At one point in the evening “a crowd surf in the quiet” is a tempted, which is certainly a new experience for all watching and taking part.
This was my first PTH gig but it certainly won’t be my last. The breakdowns come so fast that an army of roadside recovery vehicles wouldn’t be able to keep up with the pace. The variety of styles and beats stop any possibility of keeping stationary. The energy of the band, the on stage antics and sheer musical brilliance are second to none. The way in which they conduct themselves on stage mirrors their music. A combination of exhilaration and anticipation is intensely enthralling. Ending the night with the blistering Sequoia Throne, PTH is an experience that shouldn’t be missed!
Setlist: Bloodmeat, Wretch, Nautical, The Dissentience, Goddess Bound, Goddess Gagged, No Starts Over Bethlehem, Spoils, Palms Read, Blindfolds Aside, Palms Read Outro, Limb From Limb, Sequoia Throne
