Live: Polar Bear Club

Thursday, 6 June 2013

Live: Polar Bear Club

Headliner: Polar Bear Club
Support: Landscapes, Me vs Hero
Where: The Underworld, Camden
When: 1st June 2013

As Camden Rocks really kicked into full swing, doors opened early at the Underworld for the Polar Bear Club gig at 6pm, in what was undecidedly the greatest day and time to ever have that venue booked for a gig, or possibly the worst. The closest venue to the underground station? Check. A great venue? Check. A great band? Check. A lovely, sunny, summer afternoon with over a hundred bands playing a dozen gaffs across Camden? Check, Check and Check.

Undoubtedly the crowd at tonight’s gig was definitely of the persuasion that PBC are nothing if not a great band, and as they began to fill the venue, it was clear to see those that had spent the day in and around some great acts (See Dan’s review) were definitely up for this one.

But I must say right now, as much as I love writing, and as much as I love punk rock. And as much as I love combining writing and punk rock, and writing about punk rock. I hate writing live reviews…….

There are so many hundreds of different little nuances and reasons that can affect whether a band deliver a mind blowing set, or a terrible one. Technically categorizing them and scoring them and rating them on a traffic light scale of poor/good/great is fine. But to analyse every aspect as to why, leaves boring reading. Because what is really at count is the performance and the evening on a whole. To over-compensate, live reviews become cliché. For instance - I swear - I once read in Time magazine that the discovery of Otzi the Ice Man was the most incendiary thing to happen for human biology in the last 50 years. Clichés become very boring very quick. And once I get bored, I start to think about fun things, like boobs, and ice cream, and eating ice cream off of boobs, and sex. So here is tonight’s review summed up as recognizable sexual partners. Enjoy…..

Up first, we had Landscapes, who, on the night seemed a mystery to me, and long after the event, I still can’t fully figure out why. In a post-everything environment you can throw as many generic, compound genre-labels at a band as you want until something sticks, or you like what has stuck, or the band do. Or the fans who like the band that like a genre or whatever-core do. But I still can’t figure it out. Sonically, Landscapes are a tight unit and present a mature post hardcore sound, that really reminded me of  Vheissu era Thrice, with added venom. Visually, their singer stalks the stage in a menacing manner, and the band display a direct energy. So what if it was early in the night, and late in the tour (PBC were flying home the following day) and Landscapes were the opening act. So maybe fatigue had kicked in, or maybe that the venue was still only filling up had something to do with it. But there was something else, something missing. In the songs maybe, or a certain je ne sais quoi, or X-Factor. They left me longing for something more, but in a really disappointing way. Which sucked, because I really think these guys could have been a lot better than average.

If Landscapes were a sexual partner: They would be a slutty-looking, deviant hottie that was shit in the sack.

Me Vs Hero are a band I’ve heard lots of rumblings over, and was glad to catch them live for the first time. Sonically, the comparisons to New Found Glory and A Day to Remember are probably something that will constantly stick with them. But their sugary pop-punk hooks and hardcore beatdowns work. It’s a tried and trusted method that gets the increasing crowd numbers enthusiastically moving. Their bro-core sing-alongs were a perfect accompaniment to the start of summer, and were brilliantly executed. Bounce along, upbeat pop-punk tracks that bury themselves in your head, played at a great tempo with enough of a (double) kick. Does exactly what you’d expect it would, which is deliver utter, joyous, fun.

If Me Vs Hero were a sexual partner: They would be the pretty lil’ sweetheart next door that likes to get rough and ready from time to time.

As the evening passes and the crowd fills out, Polar Bear Club hit the stage and do exactly what you’d expect. Which is play tight, well crafted post hardcore in the vein of Jawbreaker, Small Brown Bike and Hot Water Music. On the final night of their European tour (of which they have also been playing festival dates) they gave both themselves and the crowd an impressive send off. Now in full swing, a venue that seemed to suit them perfectly – the stage size and intimacy – bore witness to an impressive performance, and the crowd lapped up everything these guys had to offer. Jimmy Stadt proves that despite the demure appearance he is a born front man. Charismatic between song banter, high end energy and obligatory crowd participation and stage dives made this an amazing set from start to finish. A band that makes you want to get involved, throw your arms around a friend and just all out enjoy. A great way to end the tour, and a great end of the night.

If Polar Bear Club were a sexual partner: They would be that girl you always liked from way back when you were seventeen. But ten years later, a little wiser, a little bit more grown up and more mature, you will love and appreciate even when you’re not getting your end away.

Gig review by James Robinson (Twitter: @godamnlife) 

Original article can be found on The Punk Archive website here