Reviewed: La Dispute
Saturday, February 11th
Annandale Hotel, Sydney
Reviewed by Liveguide Contributor Christian Brimo
It takes a special band to play one venue all weekend and still be fresh and full for the last show. Americans La Dispute made the beleaguered Annandale Hotel their home last weekend, playing a sold out show on Friday night, an all ages show on Saturday afternoon, and the Saturday night show I attended. The venue was packed, and the band was anything but tired.
The microphone was broken for the first two songs, so La Dispute’s famously heartfelt lyrics briefly took a backseat to the music. And what music! It sounded like a dying man’s heartbeat, giving off one last surge of strength before the end. That sense of desperation and intensity carried through to the lyrics, with every song being about death or a lost love.
It felt like a paradox, with lead singer Jordan Dreyer performing spoken word that lead into frenzied moshing and crowd surfing. I’d stop, realize they were singing about a drive-by shooting or a brother dying of cancer, and then duck to avoid a flying boot. But the physicality of the crowd was of a piece with the intensity of the music. Everything was about catharsis, whether it was the catharsis of a sweaty crowd or yelling along to lyrics like “If I can’t love you as a lover I will love you as a friend”.
The occasional cheesy lyric was the only fault I could find with La Dispute, though I wish their set had gone on a bit longer (or that I’d bought tickets to their other shows). The supports were also ill-chosen. Making were jammy and lethargic, and the heavy moments were few and far between. Animal Shapes had the emotion, but little else, and at their worst they sounded like the Postal Service.
Still, nothing could detract attention from La Dispute. They’re one of the most powerful bands around today, and their heartfelt brand of hardcore is matched only by Fucked Up and Titus Andronicus.
La Dispute are currently on tour. Click here for the dates.