THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN | LIVE REVIEW
Great Hall, Cardiff University Students Union, Fri 1 Nov
New Jersey ‘mathcore’ rockers The Dillinger Escape Plan tore up Cardiff SU’s Great Hall last Friday with their trademark brand of laser-like precise hardcore and unrestrained, violent stage moves. One of the joys of being a fan of a band who, at least in my own experience, are, putting it mildly, a hard sell (whacking on 43% Burnt at bleary-eyed late night music-sharing sessions around the laptop is a known mood killer) is that their fanbase are generally really into them. Like, know every word, know every riff, know every drum fill into them (which, if you know Dillinger, you’ll know is no easy feat). So when the lights dimmed and the gut-rocking, trouser-shaking, rolling bass which currently introduces the band kicked in, the tension in the room was palpable.
Kicking off with Prancer, the opener from latest album One Of Us Is The Killer, the band stormed the stage with jagged, syncopated discords, a few seconds of silence, screamed vocals – how could it all be?! – and a massive foot-stomper of a riff, oomph. Instantly exploding into action, the members each hurtled around the stage, jumped off amps, flung guitars, whilst I, reserved gig-goer that I am, whole heartedly threw my support behind them with the most intense head-nodding that I could muster (hands still firmly in pockets). A 50-minute (possibly longer) whirlwind of insanity ensued with the band playing tracks from throughout their career. At one point, like a mathcore messiah, guitarist Ben Weinman, who has clearly placed far too much faith in the strength of his fans, walked slowly over the cupped hands (and possibly a few squished faces) of the crowd, eventually almost reaching the back of the room.
For me the whole thing was incredible. But, looking around, it was clear that not everybody was having a good time. Moody significant others, undoubtedly dragged along by over-enthusiastic partners, stuck out like sore thumbs, and groups of friends talked into going by that one member, who, to be fair, usually has pretty good taste, clustered in various corners, their indignant faces occasionally flashing into view with the lights. Oh well, name me one good band that wasn’t divisive.
words PETER MARSHALL