Posted on October 18, 2009 - by Imelda

Alexisonfire + Anti-Flag + Four Year Strong + Ghost Of A Thousand

Anti-Flag © Imelda Michalczyk

The Forum
London
14 October 2009

This year the The Eastpak Antidote Tour takes four bands across Europe during October and November and made a two night pit-stop in London, beginning with the main event at The Forum.

Ghost of a Thousand have the right idea about handling  the opening band slot on a four act bill. They kick off proceedings by simply attacking the stage with more energy than some acts muster up during an entire set. Hailing from Brighton, they are the only UK act on this tour. All donned in uniform bright white t-shirts they sprint through a set with vocals that prove to be the most scream-ridden of the night. Songs including ‘Knees, Toes, Teeth’ from their second album, this summer’s release “New Hopes, New Demonstrations” are warmly received.

GOAT’s slightly more metal sound (than that of the acts to follow) may not be to everyone’s taste, but there’s one thing this band excel at – crowd management. Singer Tom Lacey not only directs the audience about which way to carry him when he crowd-surfs (!) but also splits the crowd down the middle and persuades them to rush into one another. Which they do.

Four Year Stong are bigger and hairier. But lighter on sound, rolling out a more pop-punk vibe, which goes down well with the ever increasing crowd. Having two vocalists strengthens and varies their catchy, upbeat approach. And proving that they’re nice guys, the Massachusetts five-piece stop their set to get everyone to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to their drummer Jake. Ahhh.

First up of the night’s co-headliners is Anti-Flag and the evening shifts up a gear. Familiar songs such as ‘This is the End For You my Friend’, ‘Die For The Government’ and the rousing ‘Turncoat’ are punched out alongside new songs including ‘Sodom, Gomorrah, Washington DC’ from the current album “The People Or The Gun”. A circle pit ensues. Anti-Flag simply get on and do what they do best – providing the strongest, clearest political messages of the evening along with  scissor kicks and songs that make you want to join in and shred up your vocal chords. Their cover of ‘Should I Stay or Should I Go’, which is enthusiastically received by the now heaving Forum, also provides an opportunity for the band to draw attention to their free Clash covers instore show the following day. (See our review)

By the time Alexisonfire take to the stage, the crowd are more than warmed up. Which is a good thing, as frontman George Pettit runs onto the stage and immediately flings himself headfirst into the crowd. Which is a great – if blink-and-you-miss-it – start! The Canadian rockers offer up a driving, layered mix hinting at punk, indie and hardcore. Their dual lead vocalists with very different styles of singing (one ripped up and screaming, one crystal clear) give the music an interesting edge and variety. New songs including ‘Old Crows’ and ‘Young Cardinals’ are mixed in with older tracks including ‘We Are The Sound’ and Anti-Flag’s Chris #2 joins them briefly onstage. The crowd makes enough racket to bring them back for a two song encore before the lights go up.