Hoards
of fans packed Southampton’s Guildhall to witness a group who have risen
from almost nothing into one of the biggest bands to visit the venue in
recent times. Bringing with them Canterbury and Cancer Bats to get the
crowds started, Billy Talent had a full house to perform to.
Although they didn't exactly look the part, Canterbury played though a thoroughly entertaining set of upbeat tracks. Like many support acts, their sound setup let them down somewhat however their ability and enthusiasm shone through and had the crowd clapping along. Cancer Bats on the other hand were about as pleasant as their title suggests.
After the crowd had been sufficiently warmed up, the lights dimmed and background music stopped moments before Billy Talent burst onto a stage filled with bright strobe lighting. They started with ‘Devil On My Shoulder,’ the first song from their new album which was performed with more polish than most other bands could ever dream of and was an instant hit with fans.
Their set was as robust as their musical performance, playing through songs like ‘Try Honesty’, ‘Fallen Leaves’ and ‘Devil in a Midnight Mass’ there wasn’t a filler track in sight.
Kowalewicz vocals stood up well live while guitarist Ian D’Sa maintained the tight playing we have come to expect from Billy Talent. All four members of the band gelled brilliantly and created a sound which was unique and powerful.
To finish the set, the grey backdrop was replaced by a red one for the final song, ‘Red Flag’ which had fans screaming along and ended the night with a bang.
Billy Talent have clearly honed their performance over the years and have become an unmissable live band. Their energy, original sound and near perfect set coupled with fantastic stage lighting ensured that fans left the venue wanting more.
George Turner