Live Review: Title Fight, Paper Arms, Coves

Locals Coves had the honour of opening the event and were clearly ecstatic and indebted for the opportunity. Unequivocally the heaviest band of the night, embracing an emotional hardcore formula akin to the likes of Blacklisted, Hundredth and Defeater, the quintet’s take on the genre is arguably the best in Adelaide and easily noteworthy Australia-wide. Their energy and chemistry respectably ascended courtesy the performances of the members and the eventual necessary discarding of the microphone stand by frontman Michael Birch, which opened the stage up for the band. One to keep an eye on.

Paper Arms launched into their hometown anthem Bricks & Mortar as an opener and their collective adoration for Adelaide was crystal clear. With high spirits that translated splendidly into the performance, they marched on with smiles on their faces and gratitude in their hearts. In Silence, You Don’t Speak For Me, Pick Yourself Up, featuring an excellent bass guitar/vocal combination interlude, These Nights, 14 Days, Blackout (a slower ballad), hard-rock-grunge number This Time and Snake Oil were standouts but the escalation the band has undergone from frequent overseas touring has put their live performance at a headline status. Most striking is vocalist/guitarist Josh Mann’s storytelling when describing the next song, adding not only more personality to the tracks but also a level of magnetism to the lyrical content. Please stick around in your home nation for a while Paper Arms — you are not just missed, you’re needed.

Pennsylvania’s Title Fight are constantly evolving with each release and performance. Beginning from the intimate nature of a basement punk outfit, they’ve evolved into a progressive-shoegaze-alternative-punk band that can transform from a stir-crazy borderline melodic hardcore act into a trance-inducing atmospheric wall of noise. It’s almost incomprehensible unless actually witnessed. Shed, Like A Ritual, 27, Hypernight, Leaf, Numb But I Still Feel It, Make You Cry, Symmetry, Liar’s Love, Lefty, Head In The Ceiling Fan (which was much more profound in a live setting) and Secret Society were the outstanding songs of the set. But this list only captures a glimpse of the metamorphosis Title Fight undergo in just an hour-long performance. Incredible.