Billy Talent - Hammersmith Palais - 8th September 2006
Support: Reuben

It’s often hard to convey the power and sheer size of a record in a live performance no matter who you are on the music scene. Billy Talent, however, prove that not only can you bring the grander of a high class album to the stage, but you can go even further. From the moment the guys enter the stage the crowd is ecstatic and you can feel the shift in the air as everyone prepares to lose themselves in the music. You get welcomed into the evening with the classic opener ‘This is how it goes’, from their self titled debut album. Billy Talent vibrate against the mass of people as the heat and music bounces to and fro from the fans back to the band. With new songs such as ‘Work Bees’, ‘Fallen Leaves’ and the current release ‘Red Flag’ proving to ignite the venue just as much as their more well known works, Billy Talent continue to work the audience with magical ease and grace.

Lead singer Ben Kowalewicz is the central hub of the energy and conducts the performance like a priest at church, preaching the band’s message of hope, anger, pain and drama to the masses with joyous effects. The care the group holds for their fan base not only is seen in their passion for the music but their general safety, informing everyone between songs that ‘if someone falls down, you pick them back up’ and ‘Gentlemen, please respect the ladies in the crowd’. Something I was very thankful for by the end of the evening being a short girl, you can often get lost in the sea of people if they are not looking out for you. Billy Talent play with the fury that you would expect from a contemporary punk band, but this four piece band from Canada has a different spark in them, that forces you to notice them and grabs your attention. From a personal viewpoint I am always pleasantly surprised when a band I have followed the progress of, out performs themselves and I am glad to say Billy Talent fits into this category. They’ve grown in leaps and bounds since they’re debut in terms of song writing and their live acts, which was already at a high standard to begin with.

Even after leaving the night soaked threw with water and sweat, wobbly legs, slightly dizzy, a bruised hip, shoe marks on my head and missing my natural comfort zone, I know it has been all worth it just for the experience alone. This group’s charm and phenomenal live presentation wins you over instantly and is definitely worth the praise and good fortune they receive from this tour and the album. If you get the chance to catch this band live, it’s well worth your time as they are set for big things on the rock scene and is likely move on from small venues very soon, so take the chance now to see them now, up close and very personal. Billy Talent’s current single ‘Red Flag’ is available now, as is their album ‘II’.


Review by Laura Heath


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