Madina Lake
w/ The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
The
Garage, Islington London
2nd
December 2012
The
anticipation builds and from the first strum of ‘In Fate’s Hands’ The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus explode into
crystal clear vocals and an abundant of energy that rolls out across the crowd.
The Florida chaps now almost in their 10th year as a band let ‘False
Pretense’ unfold, taking the lead on a set that is already impressing. ‘Pen
& Paper’ and 2011’s Am I the Enemy
pours out with ‘Fall From Grace’ in a monstrous manner armed with frontman
Ronnie Winter’s almighty and frankly brilliant vocals backed by storming drum beats.
The latest addition to the band is lead guitarist Josh Burke who only at the
age of 19 delivers a mouth-watering, head turning guitar solo.
Then
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus’ trademark anthem ‘Damn Regret’ see’s life and with
that there is a remarkable moment where every set of feet, in this tightly
squeezed room, jump in unison. Moulding
a unique genre that draws elements from being southern, to country to pretty
damn heavy and not forgetting the superbly catchy choruses Florida’s finest
bring, Ronnie and co are a band that have impacted music evolution. This proof
is found in ‘Your Guardian Angel’ and not only does it not leave a dry eye in
sight but the picture perfect rock ballad is the frontman’s time to shine. Seeing
‘Face Down’ take off into the night leaves the huge chorus echoing across the
room from Ronnie’s lips to those standing at the very back.
Headlining
is Chicago quartet Madina Lake. The
alternative rockers featured on 2007’s indoor festival Give It A Name’s line up
and though it only feels like yesterday, three albums down the line they have
since come a long way. Bringing back fond memories with their debut single ‘Here
I Stand’ a much deserved warm welcome awaits it.
A
bundle of rowdy energy tied with a multitude of hypnotic sing-alongs follow from
2007’s From Them, Through Us, To You with
‘In Another Life’ and ‘Adalia’ both of which greatly capture the essence of the
talent within Madina Lake. What grows more evident is the brother love and bond
that exceeds from Nathan and Matthew Leone, the four-piece take to the stage
looking stronger than ever.
‘House
Of Cards’ see’s guitarist Mateo Camargo attempt to crowd surf before ‘Now Or
Never’ spontaneously puts the night on a high griping everyone present. Nothing
is clearer tonight than the passion for playing music and frontman Nathan tells
the crowd ‘we appreciate everything you’ve done for us. This is the best single
moment of our lives’ while regularly reaching out to the crowd, and mid-way the
set he even crowd surfs with a member of the audience.
Despite
the ridiculous temperatures outside, Madina Lake raise the heat with scorching
power delivered song after song. The obvious spring in Nathan’s step only makes the most miserable of people unable to resist singing along to the likes of ‘One
Last Kiss’ and 2009’s Attics to Eden ‘Never
Take Us Alive’ unpredictably turning the room into a fun filled party. But the
party doesn’t stop there. ‘Let’s Get Outta Here’ witnesses a tremendous amount
of movement. ‘Welcome to Oblivion’ taking a hold of North London, accepts the
crown for anthem of the night as Nathan is swallowed up by the crowd who chant
along to the wholesome melody in the mammoth closing chorus.
As
the four come out for one last song ‘Imagineer’, the only song off 2011’s World War III to make it on the set list
for tonight, transmit a more mature and darker side to Madina Lake.
