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Bringing bands from the disparate locales of San Diego, Leeds and Madrid altogether onto one crazy touring lineup, the queercore screamo geniuses in SYSC steamrollered their way across Europe and into the UK. Out Of Rage managed to send a team to see them, and after letting their bruised bodies and broken eardrums recover this is what they had to say.
As the first notes from Madrid screamo act Boneflower's set rang out, it already promised a special evening ahead. Their slightly shoegazey sound, combined with the viciously emotional heft that they so deftly wielded, made for a sonic punch in the gut as nasty as any you'll find. Whilst clearly the least well-known band, they didn't give that thought even one moment of air time and instead set about killing their half hour slot before promptly making a fan out of every single person watching on. Easily one of the best shocks at a gig so far this year, Boneflower absolutely need to be making it onto your Spotify rotation as soon as is possible.
After a brief break for everybody's necks, Killing Me Softly showed us exactly why they were chosen to subheadline on this crazy tour. The Leeds-based crew slam dunked their entire set, as each stunningly tight riff and pulverising breakdown carried them further and further through what was a pristine run through of their music. As nominees on our Albums Of The Year list last year the expectations were high, but they decimated any and all doubts or concerns in an instant. The moshpit was also thriving, with Connie from SYSC joining the fray on numerous occasions alongside plenty of excited crowd members.
Of course though, both paled in comparison to the almighty headline act that was SeeYouSpaceCowboy. Opening with the first two songs on their third and most recent LP 'Coup De Grace', the Cali quintet showed what it takes to become as beloved as they are in such a thriving scene. The room was bouncing for nigh on their whole set, and there was barely room to move near the stage with moshpits, crowdsurfers, stagedivers and assorted members of bands galore everywhere. The very next track happened to be one of their most enduringly popular songs, 'The End To A Brief Moment Of Lasting Intimacy', to which the reaction might be best described as pandemonium. As the uproarious set continued, each musician got their own chances to shine and took them eagerly, giving rise to varying moments of blissful calm and abrasive chaos.
The bands tour-titling album was featured very heavily, with songs like 'Lubricant Like Kerosene', Silhouettes In Motion', and 'To The Dance Floor For Shelter' being received with particular warmth, but the older tracks 'Armed With Their Teeth' and 'Self-Help Specialist Ends Own Life' were up there as the writer's personal favourite moments. Even in the dying moments of the sets finale 'Chewing The Scenery', there was only movement to be seen, with vicious energy to be found in pockets all through the audience. Once the sensational headliners exited stage left, the energy eventually died down, and the onlookers dispersed, it was crystal clear that what we had just been privy to was the last tour that this band should ever play in venues this small.
Words: Jake Longhurst
Photos: Nic Howells
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