La Dispute – Gig Review & Photo Gallery 24th August @ The Gov, Adelaide SA
La Dispute
The Gov, Adelaide SA
Thursday 24th August 2023
Support: Blind Girls and Wifecult
Just over 14 years ago at an Adelaide CBD venue entitled Syke Electric Light Hotel (which no longer exists), three emotional punk and post-hardcore outfits performed to a significant audience and the acts incuded: Local quartet Paper Arms, Brisbane’s To The North and then Michigan’s La Dispute. What the audience experienced this night (which included this writer in the crowd) was not a life-altering experience necessarily, but it was sight, sound and heart reforming. Each band’s delivery recalled the early days of the “basement scene” that arguably became popular in New Brunswick years before this event. Essentially, punk affiliated groups would perform at people’s houses in their basement instead of bars or venues of that nature. The shows were intimate, artistic and brash and in 2009 this is what occurred at Electric Light Hotel, a confusing yet captivating art-punk-poetry showcase with the shining light being La Dispute and their bare-footed vivacious vocalist Jordan Dreyer.
The quintet would tour Australia again in 2011 to larger audiences and it was later this very year that the five-piece’s landmark full-length would be release entitled: Wildlife. Now 12 years later (and after numerous LD tours down under), many of the devotees from that very first show made their way to The Governor Hindmarsh, the largest venue the outfit had headlined in South Australia to celebrate the second album’s 10 (+ Two) year anniversary and this capacity audience of varying ages were ecstatic to experience these live 'New Storms for Older Lovers'.
Queensland’s Wifecult were given the responsibility of warming up the crowd and the trio accomplished this task rivetingly with no reservation. ‘Wearing Thin’ channeled the brilliant beauty of Braid with dual vocal lush textures of Moose Blood. ‘Deadman' paid homage to earlier Into It. Over It. which concluded with a deafening scream from bass player and stage madman Joseph Keating - this would have most likely inspired Cedric Biller-Zavala to applaud in envy. 'Seeing Double' maintained this tender emotional rock soundscape charmingly, then new single 'Hold it Down' had a resounding racket that Gyroscope would have been proud of. ‘Rose' felt like the song that Superheaven forgot to write and closer ‘Jasmine' showcased a nod of respect to the improperly underrated Everyone Everywhere. Interesting side note is that the current drummer for Wifecult is Brad Vander Lugt, the percussionist for La Dispute and the three gentlemen share a bond that is almost like a brotherhood. Be sure to see the opening act concert-goers, you never know what you may miss.
Suddenly The Governor Hindmarsh’s stage became notably smaller. A drum-kit was setup in front of the one used prior and five discreet musicians crammed the small space provoking an eerie confused silence that overtook the crowded room. With no warning at all, an explosion of blistering blackened screamo blasted the unexpecting onlookers in an avalanche of chaotic heaviness. Gold Coast’s Blind Girls had arrived to fantastically frighten the entire venue and leave all in shocked awe, in the best way possible. Blending the mathcore formulas of Converge, Oathbreaker, Rolo Tomassi and Robotosaurus into an enrapturing cacophony that is uniquely their own; the five-piece were crazily content in keeping their motif of disquiet. With an onstage energy that The Dillinger Escape Plan would adore which included an athletic exhibition incorporating Blind Girls' musical instruments as weapons and vocalist Sharni Brouwer's animalistic scream reverberating throughout the building; one could not help but be wayward in wonderment at the showcase. 'The Shape Of Harm' was simply spectacular - in honesty though, the magnificent madness of BG is beyond memorable.
La Dispute’s Wildlife was the Michigan-based quintet’s first album to properly chart in the US, however the trajectory that these 14 tracks elevated the band to a global scale is still astounding after 12 years. In Australia, the LP was named the best release of 2011 for Triple J’s Short.Fast.Loud program and this ensured that ‘Dispute’s days of house-shows and basement venues in Oz were basically over.
The five men quickly appeared to an eruption of cheers from a sold-out crowd and the twangs of the opening song 'A Departure' riled up the fans into a deranged hysteria. The petite front-man Jordan Dreyer began his darting and spinning around the stage like a lynx searching for its pack, this became the audience and they all wailed these important lyrical stories together. “Maybe You Know What I’m Talking About” was shouted by all and this was to be practically outdone in each track La Dispute performed for this historic recital.
“There’s A Melody In Everything / I’m Trying To Find A Harmony But Nothing Seems To Work/ Nothing Seems To Fit” - Mr Dreyer was not even required for this closing of 'Harder Harmonies', as this became a gang-vocal-choir that overtook his spoken word yell and he could only share the microphone in appreciation.
'St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church Blues' brought a more indie dance punk feel to the showcase, with fans side-stepping and bopping in unison while Jordan became a spirit-child of Ian Curtis in erratic dancing. The post hardcore driven 'Edit Your Hometown' provoked the bounce effect in the mosh-pit which was then slowed down graciously by 'A Letter'. This gradually built into a war-cry and took everyone’s breath away. ‘Safer In The Forest/Love Song For Poor Michigan’ reignited the hypnotic jazzy post hardcore and was followed flawlessly with ‘The Most Beautiful Bitter Fruit’. ‘A Poem’ had a western slide guitar effect that ascended song’s cinematic feel and it was emphasised by the trumpet inclusion from guitarist Chad Sterenberg.
The pinnacle came in 'King Park’ and understandably so, the track’s story and conclusion is so dramatic and thunderous, it does become overwhelming. “Can I Still Get Into Heaven If I Kill Myself?” is the resounding rallying call in all its devastation and La Dispute was silenced by with the crowd’s roaring contribution. Is this the new post hardcore anthem on the same level of Refused’s ‘Rather Be Dead’? Hard to tell, however 'King Park' does leave people shaking, literally.
A slight recovery then came for all within The Gov, especially with 'A Broken Jar’ that was almost Shakespearean with its poetic and theatrical display. This was astonishingly outdone by the next “ACT” being ‘All Our Bruised Bodies And The Whole Heart Shrinks’.
‘You And I In Unison’ was a climactic love letter to the audience from LD - not entirely within the words, but more-so the message the song carries.
The five-piece disappeared for what felt like an eternity until they re-emerged and the question of the encore was confirmed. Mr Dreyer recalled his memories with Adelaide, a show where he sliced his foot open because he was always trying to perform bare-footed. He discussed the current state of the world and how hopeless it is and how we have to look out for each other. He emphasised that the “people in power” never will and it is up to us. He spoke passionately about "punching people in the face” if they assault someone unjustly; his message was that our community, our family need to lookout for each other because it is the only way we will survive. The quintet then performed: ‘Andria’, ‘How I Feel’, ‘Why It Scares Me’ and ‘For Mayor In Splitsville’ wholeheartedly, with all the energy they had left for the evening.
In reflection of this recital, there are two sentences on the closing track of Wildlife entitled ‘You And I In Unison’ that best summarises what transpired at this monumental event and the world we live in: “I Blur Out Everything Else. That’s How I Choose To Remember It.”
Those who attended blurred out the world and chose to remember this (and their) WILDLIFE - we are thankful and better for it.
Gig Review by Will Oakeshott. Insta: @teenwolfwill
Photo Gallery by Dave Rubinich Insta: @dave.rubinich
Please Credit & Tag Wall of Sound and Dave Rubinich if you repost photos
Wifecult
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Blind Girls
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La Dispute
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