Banks Arcade - Gig Review & Photo Gallery 25th May @ Crowbar, Syd NSW
Banks Arcade
Crowbar, Sydney NSW
May 25, 2024
Supports: Earth Caller, Closure and Heartline
Earlier this year, Banks Arcade released their unmissable EP, Death 2. Filled with an intoxicating conviction, permeating sultriness, and an even more palpable confidence, the EP became not only an auditory representation of the band’s distinctive identity, but through its rugged expression and thoughtful stylistic choices, prompted its own visual style. Setting on multiple dates across both New Zealand and Australia, Banks Arcade allowed audiences to be submerged in their new sound and style firsthand. Through dripping sweat and heavy breaths, the Death 2 A Muse Tour housed moments of clarity that define Banks Arcade as one of the most self-assured, intriguing, and exciting acts of this year and beyond.
Banks Arcade found their Sydney home within the blackened brick walls of Liechardt’s Crowbar. Draped in layers of memories in the form of bodily fluids and unique stains of last gigs’ brutality in one room, and an iconic wall of vinyl and eclectic homages to bands past and present in the other, there was perhaps no better venue to host the appointed ‘heavy metal boy band’. With a shared haunting yet inviting ambiance, the venue and band shared an inextricable connection in this way- both mysterious and loveable. Of course, no tour is complete without a set of supports. This time around Heartline, Closure, and Earth Caller took on the daunting challenge of warming up the crowd for the night ahead.
As patrons spilled into tonight’s segmented floor of the Crowbar, they were greeted by Adelaide’s spunkiest, Heartline (not to be confused with the band Adelaide from Heartline). From the moment the band walked onto the stage, up until the moment of their departure, not a moment was wasted to divulge into their refreshing and inspired discography. Heartline’s performance was, most prominently, a solidification of their already strong community ties. With fans screaming back to the lyrics of songs only released recently, such as ‘Lovers’, it is clear to see that the band’s primary focus lies within creating music for themselves, and the like-minded people around them. Shimmering underneath the vibrant pink and green hues of the stage lighting, the energy of each individual member culminated in a dazzling display of showmanship, technical prowess, and a whole lot of fun. Heartline are one of those bands that are easy to watch, but even easier to fall in love with- and I saw that occurring around the room. With hair flying in every which direction, frontman Luke Taylor stole the show, conducting the audience with an outwardly quirky appearance that was shattered and thrown into disarray by the arrival of his intense and prevailing screams. Pouring rampant and raw energy into the room, Heartline are a raging force to be reckoned with. Their dichotomously ferocious and wholesome presentation was enough to label them as my favourite opener of the night.
Following were Sydney’s very own Closure! This group is one that needs no introduction to the stage, with their most recent years seeing them share the stage with bands like Holding Absence and Taking Back Sunday. Despite this, Closure continues to foster this essence of humility, draped in the bearings of the Do-It-Yourself attitude that never fails to avert your expectations upon every performance. Setting up coyly and modestly, and taking the first few moments to warm up to the audience, this feeling of uncertainty is swiftly debilitated as vocalist Lucy lets out her first powerful utterances. Within the moments of her more delicate vocal work, a mark of a heavy “get the fuck up” would be a playful reminder of the energy this band has, can, and will pack time and time again. And this is perhaps most on display when the time to play ‘Bedroom’ rolls around. Arguably their biggest hit, moments of unity were seen around the room in celebration of this glorious alternative, pop-punk hit. With guitar flair, Closure brought the groove in more ways than one as the room started to bubble with more and more self-expression as the night grew later and people became a little looser. Closure’s down-to-earth persona spread even further as the room shared excitement over Lucy’s birthday- much to the vocalist’s embarrassment. Closure yet again asserted their ability to warm up a crowd, and it was a pleasure seeing them back in a room like the Crowbar.
Earth Caller were next to storm the stage, and in a manner that immediately shook the room to its core. Relentless and unafraid, the Melbourne band owned the stage with their barbaric vocals, heavy strums, and pounding drums. Throughout the night, there had been a sheer lack of moshing, almost a palpable sense of insecurity or waiting for others to make the first move, filling the usually intense environment. It was within Earth Caller’s set that these boundaries began to break, with some of the sturdiest audience members skipping through their best two steps and chucking their most fearsome windmills into the central wooden floor. This, of course, was a direct reflection of the band’s energy on stage- one whose sheer electricity made it impossible not to move. What was truly capturing was that bass, creating a reverberating, warming feeling throughout the whole set. As Josh Collard became saturated by the darkness of the lights, for moments at a time he became an expressive silhouette with raised hands and hauntingly moving features- a picture of villainy and robustness that directly correlates with the band’s music. Despite their fearsome presentation, Earth Caller spewed incredibly important messages of mental health and self-reflection toward their audience in the most sincere of ways, using music as a pipeline for feeling. This show marked a fresh start for the metalcore outfit- with a new member, new songs, and a new and revitalized era incoming. It was a treat to witness the start of what is soon to be some flourishing lore.
After some swift changeovers, and a pre-show playlist blaring that was second to none, Banks’ hypnotizing aura began to fill the room, even before they approached the slightly platformed stage of the hearty venue. As the lights descended into darkness, the band shuffled under the cover of momentary sparse visibility to perch themselves on the stage and appear in a grandiose manner. As crimson shone on each member, now settled somewhat menacingly within their spots, a charge that had been gradually building all night began to fill the room. As the opening words to ‘Worship The Internet’ were spluttered against the microphone and projected outwards, this energy spilled over, with the room becoming one ignited by passion and intensity; a fearsome pit made signature by its relentlessness, perhaps only aided by the time it took to explode.
The translation of Bank’s recorded work to their live presentation is nothing short of exceptional, not just in the sense of hearing, but in the realm of feeling. Overshadowing the audience, the instrumentalists on either side stand ruggedly with dark hoodies and a controlling expression. Compositionally, they frame their vocalist, O’Donnell, in a way that situates him in the spotlight. His stage presence is nothing short of imposing, menacing, and of complete dictation of the audience beyond him. It is this same confidence you hear that is visually seen, and more so, felt, in an inescapable and direct way. This poise rings true vocally too, as Josh commands with a multitude of feats; from close-range microphone assaults of a sultry and seductive manner, to anguished and charged screams, each more grueling than the last. As these soar among the pulsating drums and chunky bass lines, the Banks Arcade live performance becomes a living and breathing entity, all connected to form an unbeatable musical monster.
Perhaps the highlight of the night was the performance of ‘More Want’. This track was my favourite of the aforementioned EP and has a complex duality within its four-minute run time. This same interesting formation was displayed in a live setting, with the band shifting from smooth jazz vocals, to harsh and intrusive instrumental blares. It is a song like this that also demonstrates the band’s incredible live prowess, unlimited by genre or technique. It’s a performance that sees them shifting through styles within each member’s own craft, and nailing them with skill and professionalism. What was the most invigorating to see was the crowd crouching and waiting impatiently for the many callouts of the track: “… wait”, before diving into complete chaos and utter brutality- all watched over by a smirking and proud band above.
‘Roulette’ saw one of the fastest and most unhinged circle pits grace the venue as bodies flew through between the narrow, brick walls. And it was here that I think the band became privy to the actions they incite through their commands. Among the movement, were also moments of discussion. Confirming many fans’ suspicions, the title of the Death 2 A Muse tour was indeed a hint at a new body of work, a corresponding one to the already released Death 2, titled, A Muse. Confirmation of this was incredibly exciting, and bouncing from the last release, it can only be anticipated that A Muse will be another show stopping demonstration of the Banks Arcade’s experimentation and unique craft.
Stripping back the show, the night ended on ‘Self Help’. With the fluorescent lights shifting to a warm yellow, a singular spotlight illuminated O’Donnell, now donning a black singlet and his guitar. Isolated, he told the story of the emotive and reflective entry that has received much love since its release as a single. It was a beautiful change of pace, and a jarring one to see at the end of the show, but one that made it all the more powerful. Melancholic, touching, and gripping, the night concludes with an audience absolutely awe-struck by the band in front of them.
The Death 2 A Muse tour was a celebration of Banks Arcade in their purest and most self-assured form to date. And it is this presentation of self that has also seen them at their most captivating, effortlessly hypnotizing the audience that scurries before them. Conjuring the light as their vessel and commanding the stage as their own, Banks Arcade is a formidable entity that allows their craft to do the talking. With the help of Heartline, Closure, and Earth Caller, the night was an intoxicating offer of some of the most energetic live acts going around.
I cannot wait to see what Banks Arcade do next, and it seems that wait is only a short moment away.
Words by Georgia Haskins @ghaskins2002
Photo Gallery by Jackson Saunders @jsaundersfilm
Please credit Wall Of Sound and Jackson Saunders if you repost photos.
Heartline
[gallery type="square" ids="https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Heartline-1.jpg|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Heartline-3.jpg|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Heartline-4.jpg|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Heartline-5.jpg|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Heartline-6.jpg|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Heartline-8.jpg|"]Closure[gallery type="square" ids="https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Closure-1.jpg|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Closure-2.jpg|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Closure-5.jpg|"]
Earth Caller
[gallery type="square" ids="https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Earth-Caller-1.jpg|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Earth-Caller-2.jpg|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Earth-Caller-5.jpg|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Earth-Caller-6.jpg|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Earth-Caller-10.jpg|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Earth-Caller-12.jpg|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Earth-Caller-14.jpg|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Earth-Caller-19.jpg|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Earth-Caller-21.jpg|"]
Banks Arcade
[gallery type="square" ids="https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Banks-Arcade-1.jpg|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Banks-Arcade-3.jpg|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Banks-Arcade-5.jpg|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Banks-Arcade-9.jpg|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Banks-Arcade-11.jpg|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Banks-Arcade-16.jpg|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Banks-Arcade-17.jpg|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Banks-Arcade-18.jpg|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Banks-Arcade-21.jpg|"]
