TURNSTILE

HOUSE OF VANS, LONDON

There’s something unbelievably frustrating about going to see a band that you know, that you can see, are a truly great live band, but just not being able to fully appreciate the experience because of issues that are completely out of their control. Over the last year there has seldom been a more exhilarating place to be than at a TurnsTiLe show, but this evening there is a nasty element of hostility in the crowd, with fights breaking out, it being uncomfortably overcrowded and with the long, hollow venue making their usually crisp, crunching alt-hardcore float off into the ether in the places where it would usually crack you straight between your eyes. That being said, those at the very front of the crowd seem to be having a glorious time, and with songs from this year’s stunning Time And Space album being chucked out with at least double the energy of their recorded counterparts, you can see that Turnstile are in no way letting the odd situation affect what they need to do. It’s just a shame that not everyone present here tonight has the same experience.

STEPHEN HILL