Jesus Piece / The Exchange / Bristol
A midweek trip to old Bristol town and a trip to the Exchange to take in the Jesus Piece tour. Arriving for doors opening, the ‘sold out’ signs were out and the bar was packed. With no pit at the Exchange I grabbed a spot at the front of the stage read for the first act.
Out onto stage walked Uncertainty a local Bristol hardcore punk band. Formed by vocalist Tm and guitarist Kyle, they proceeded to deliver a stunning set. Tim, in pale pink hoodie and pink balaclava is a striking frontman / singer. Their sound is a nice mix. The vocals have elements of bands like Point of Contact or Never Ending Game, and the musical sound is somewhere between bands like Incendiary and Scowl. The bass/drums are intense and a great foundation for Tims harsh vocals.
The songs have a strong political edge to them, such as Fetch the Bolt Cutters which reflects the bands vegan ethos, and belief that no animal should be kept in a cage and slaughters for gain. Equality both sexual and financial fairness) are also themes that run through their material.
I was really impressed by Uncertainty. Tim comes over as a reluctant frontman, but actually, his interactions and chats with the crowd are really effective. A band that come over with a genuine passion for their craft and the ideals they stand for.
One to watch out for. Hugely entertaining opener for the night !
Next up, out step Stiff Meds, a fastcore punk outfit from London. Their style is fast as fuck, the kind of sound that has been at the heart of the UK Hardcore punk scene for years (think Napalm Death). But Stiff Meds have a US tinge to their sound too, reminiscent of bands like Infest and No Comment.
Vocalist Seth steps to the edge of the stage and demands that everyone crowds in close. The band want mayhem. “We’re here to have a good time” as the beats drop and the guitars blaze into a fierce wall of super fast riffs.
The vocals are fast and harsh and the pace is just ferocious from start to finish. The crowd are going wild, marching across the floor, arms and legs flailing, bumping into each other as the beers fly. Some even diving, and sliding across the room in the spilt beer lol.
Stiff Meds are a band pissed at the world. Its ferocious and aggressive. The audience are brilliant too. Anyone that went down was helped up, and they dived back into the carnage.
In a world of endless pop and melody, Stiff Meds bring us back to punk basics. Utterly utterly brilliant.
Tonight’s headliners are Jesus Piece, an American metalcore band from Philadelphia formed in 2015 by Aaron Heard (vocals), David Updike and John DiStefano (guitars), Anthony Marinaro (bass) and Luis Aponte (drums). They have since toured with acts such as Code Orange and Knocked Loose and their second studio album “...So Unknown” was earlier this year.
The band are on stage doing final tuning, and Aaron jumps up and check his mic. An unlikely figure in dark tracksuit with glasses and a fresh coffee, he looks studious as he lingers around on stage. As the guitars strike into action with a feedback scream, the coffee is put down, the glasses come off and the tracksuit top….. and Aaron transforms. This is where he comes alive !
What Jesus Piece serve up in The Exchange is nothing short of brutal. From the first feedback guitars to the last note, the pace is relentless. The crowd, already pumped up to the max, ratchet it up yet another notch and the pit descends into utter utter chaos. This is what hardcore punk is all about, and Aaron Heard is ringmaster general.
The Exchange is a compact venue and a band with a sound as loud and heavy as this is going to make the walls shake….. the relentless metallic, guttural sound drives the crowd wild.
That coffee is definitely having its effect now as the sound seems to just get harder, heavier and more intense as the lads in the crowd smack into the walls and each other. Despite the apparent aggressive nature of it all, the intimacy of the venue creates a sense of connection between fans and between fans and the band.
Hardcore punk is powerful, intense and brutal. And none more so than Jesus Piece. It’s easy from tonight’s experience to see exactly why they are so well liked on the hardcore music scene.
Forget your manufactured imagery, your fancy light shows, pyros, props or scenery all you need is loud guitars, brutal bass, pounding drums and vocals filled with raw passion. For real live music with a soul and power, check out Jesus Piece as soon as you can.
