Polaris, August Burns Red, Kublai Khan, Currents @ Hindley Street Music Hall, Adelaide 10/9/2023
A lone guitar stood up against the drum riser. His name chanted out around the sold out venue. A voice quivers, hearts broken. Vulnerable yet collectively strong. Ryan may not be here but this music, his music, is forever.
Tonight Polaris have everything in their hands. A number one album that cements then as the premier Australian band. A absolute Everest proportioned line up of international artists, each one a headliner in their own right, and a sold out building of brethren waiting to throw down and belt out with them.
Opening are Currents whose latest opus The Death We Seek is in any conversation about album of the year. What a ride they are and the already packed venue – at 6:50pm no less – are rolling and crashing the barrier like the sea when the storm winds being to pick up.
Living In Tragedy brutal, Remember Me epic and Into Despair prompts vocalist Brian Wille to quote ‘you are kicking the shit out of Melbourne right now!’ State rivalry always a winner here.
Texans Kublai Khan are so monstrous that even on a quick toilet break, the sink rattled to their crushing breakdown and riffs. With two members down and replacements from Thy Art Is Murder stepping in, the guys don’t miss a beat and crush.
The Hammer is exactly like its title, Swan Song is nuclear as vocalist Matt Honeycutt whips up a frenzy all around and Self Destruct so aggressive it should be on a watchdog list.
August Burns Red have always commanded a niche space of actually being a happy band with a positive message but with aggressive and passionate music. Tonight is no different as they make the stage feel bigger with the sheer presence.
Meddler, Paramount and Composure are equal parts fury and precision, the band the dam against the pushing masses of crowd surfers, singers and waves of sweat.
However everyone knows this is Polaris show. They are not headlining because they are on home turf. They are headlining because they are superstars. They just don’t know it yet.
Opening with newbies Harbinger and Nightmare is the adrenaline shot a crowd exhausted after three epic bands need. And what a concoction of a shot.
Hypermania, Lucid and Landmine blow your face off before Jamie Hails addresses the crowd and recent history. Chants of ‘Ryan’ bellow around the room as Hails voice breaks before an emotionally intense Martyr (Waves).
A run home including Inhumane and The Remedy finishes the night in a bout of red confetti, smile, tears and triumph. There truly is nothing that can stop this band. Ryan’s legacy lives on in all of us tonight.
Live Review By Iain McCallum