Tonight’s show almost didn’t happen. After Touché Amoré cancelled their show the night before at the Joiners in Southampton, that left a doubt hanging over proceedings in the Globe.
Would they perform a shorter set? Would they take to the stage at all? Jeremy Bolm’s raspy vocal style, whereby every word is delivered as a cry of anguish and anger means that as the band approach twenty years on the road, his voice is an occasional casualty of playing back-to-back concerts.
That’s why it gives me great pleasure to say that Touché Amoré don’t just play a full set tonight but sound brilliant doing so! Despite his voice sounding noticeably frail in the moments of crowd interaction between songs, the only real difference is rather than attempt to scream every word, for much of the set our frontman uses his enormous stage presence to compel the crowd to scream the words at him.
That’s why it gives me great pleasure to say that Touché Amoré don’t just play a full set tonight but sound brilliant doing so! Despite his voice sounding noticeably frail in the moments of crowd interaction between songs, the only real difference is rather than attempt to scream every word, for much of the set our frontman uses his enormous stage presence to compel the crowd to scream the words at him.
Thrusting the mic stand towards different sections of the audience during sections of the songs, the sheer volume of the crowd compensates for any barely recognisable weakness in the singer’s voice.
Before we get to the main act though, there are two supports. Buds are probably the most melodic of the three acts tonight, playing a raw style of punk that’s hook laden whilst also being animated, and exciting.
Before we get to the main act though, there are two supports. Buds are probably the most melodic of the three acts tonight, playing a raw style of punk that’s hook laden whilst also being animated, and exciting.
Following them, Trauma Ray command with a menacing, distortion laden performance that treads the line between metal and punk in a way that’s both detailed and immersive. Both acts brilliantly set the tone for the shared experience of melancholy and anger that’s about to ensue.
I hate to begin this section by discussing an aspect of the show that I couldn’t stand, especially as it had nothing to do with the band’s performance, which, as previously alluded to, is brilliant. However, as Touché Amoré take to the stage and tear into Nobody’s, utter carnage ensues.
I hate to begin this section by discussing an aspect of the show that I couldn’t stand, especially as it had nothing to do with the band’s performance, which, as previously alluded to, is brilliant. However, as Touché Amoré take to the stage and tear into Nobody’s, utter carnage ensues.
I’m thrown against the monitors repeatedly, crowd surfers are lifted over my head or else dive on top of me, people around me grab me around my neck or by my arms, and that’s for a song from their new album, Spiral In A Straight Line, which – by the standards of this band’s discography as a whole – is on the subdued side.
As you can imagine, the atmosphere summoned by the brutality of anthems in the vein of Art Official, is too much for someone with sensory issues. Here’s where this story gets amusing - I root around on the floor for my rucksack which I’d put on the floor in front of me. I look up to see an audience member lifting it on to the stage.
As you can imagine, the atmosphere summoned by the brutality of anthems in the vein of Art Official, is too much for someone with sensory issues. Here’s where this story gets amusing - I root around on the floor for my rucksack which I’d put on the floor in front of me. I look up to see an audience member lifting it on to the stage.
Reaching out my arm for the strap, its grabbed first by Jeremy Bolm, who in a striking display of on-stage improvisation tosses it backstage, with one clean throw. Thankfully, after an exaggerated but successful attempt to get his attention, he hands my rucksack back to me, and I head to the venue balcony to observe the rest of the show in comfort. I must say, on reflection, I feel somewhat honoured by the interaction.
Indeed, the concert as a whole is brilliant! Drawing on the band’s entire discography, they tear through a lot of shorter tracks from Praise/Love To Reminders, making for a quickfire juxtaposition of sounds and moods, that nevertheless maintains the intensity of the performance.
Indeed, the concert as a whole is brilliant! Drawing on the band’s entire discography, they tear through a lot of shorter tracks from Praise/Love To Reminders, making for a quickfire juxtaposition of sounds and moods, that nevertheless maintains the intensity of the performance.
Meanwhile, longer pieces like the beautiful Rapture or the absolutely heartbreaking Flowers & You, lend an ability to absorb the emotional weight of a performance by this act, even if you are someone who, like me, likes to simply observe.
Watching the show from the balcony is a different experience from being stood at the front and not just because of the different physical environments. In fact, watching the chaos ensue below me was enrapturing as performers and audience members alike seemed to feed off each other’s dynamism.
Watching the show from the balcony is a different experience from being stood at the front and not just because of the different physical environments. In fact, watching the chaos ensue below me was enrapturing as performers and audience members alike seemed to feed off each other’s dynamism.
Again, it’s hard to believe that this is the same band that cancelled a show a day previously. Perhaps that’s the marker of great musicians – the ability to look after themselves, whilst rebounding from those difficult experiences with the same amount of vibrancy they had before.
There’s a determination at that heart of everything Touché Amoré does – one that allows them to be vulnerable whilst making all their work, including tonight show, vivacious and entrancing 8/10
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