Live Review: Chiodos,Still Water Claims, Vice Versa, Finders

The phrase “good things come to those who wait” didn’t ring any truer than when Chiodos graced the stage at Amplifier after a half decade-long absence from Australia. Equipped with reinstated members and 14 years of hits, the band kept fans, old and new, thrashing well into the night.

A jolt of energy surged through the room as the electric drumming from Finders began, immediately piquing the interest of courtyard dwellers enough to get them to come inside and check the band out. The perfect balance of screams and melodic singing ensured that all eyes were on them for the duration of their set.

The boys from Vice Versa served up some slightly dancier tunes. The dual vocals and screams combo worked a treat and had onlookers nodding along in approval. Admittedly, lead vocalist Alex McGleave has yet to completely master seamless transitions from screams to singing, and often struggled to reach what would otherwise have been soaring notes. However, he still managed to keep the crowd entertained all the same.

It was a bittersweet night for Perth locals Still Water Claims as they hit the stage for one last time as a group, and they used this final hurrah to get the crowd going. Some loyal fans gathered around the front of the stage, while the rest scattered themselves around the back half of the venue. With all the pressure off them, the boys managed to smash out a set full of energy and surely pleased the diehard fans who were clamouring to document every last moment on their smartphones.

After a brief intermission the lights dimmed, and Charlie Chaplin’s iconic speech from The Great Dictator began playing over the speakers. Fans anxiously glanced around the room, wondering where Chiodos were hiding. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the boys took their places on stage one by one before launching into their epic track, The Undertaker’s Thirst For Revenge Is Unquenchable (The Final Battle). After the obligatory introduction, lead vocalist Craig Owens gleefully commanded: “Don’t just stand there - this isn’t a John Mayer concert!”  And he certainly wasn’t kidding.

Owens has all the makings of a fascinating frontman. He is absolutely polarising; you either love him or hate him. His screams would impress the most devout hardcore fan, and his powerful wails would have a lesser vocalist reaching for the Soothers after half a song. He commanded the room and, with the rest of the band, was unafraid to deliver high-energy screamo that doesn’t follow a formula. The audience was more than happy to match the band’s energy levels, with one punter even throwing himself onto other people’s backs in a bizarre and unsuccessful attempt to crowd surf. If there was one thing to take away from the night, it’s that Craig Owens inspires madness.