La Dispute at the Metro Theatre - 18/6/14 - Live Review

It is unfortunate that hardcore music is much too trivialised by those who appear to be ~elitist~ in their little sphere of what has become (oxymoronically) a popular alternative scene, one which pays ironic homage to the top 40 in a post-internet, pro-satirical culture. In actuality, shelving away an entire genre based on stereotypes drawn largely from MySpace and personal experiences of ‘2007’ is remarkably stupid. Of course, there is a repetitive and ever-nascent emotional energy which La Dispute – one such hardcore band – so passionately embrace. They are not moaning meagrely about the ambiguity of lost love. They are not debasing reality television as a mere puppet of capitalism whilst revelling in the revenue from their own sales. There is still some kind of nonplussing genuity which lends itself to a sworn following and gratifying performance. Here is a band which appropriates the tenderness of of E.E. Cummings, whose delicate poetry is scattered throughout the lyrics of Such Small Hands, whilst injecting a personal empathy – indeed, this is empathy – into the parallel mindset of a now sweaty and fervent crowd. The ardent vocal crescendo builds, builds, builds… the raucous ringing of a single guitar note is sharp; the edge of a knife. Vocalist Jordan Dreyer is holding the breath of a thousand or so corpses within the venue and so the song concludes, the bass-drum’s heartbeat impeding. We all exhale.

La Dispute present a platform on which a ménage-à-trois of music, lyrics and audience naturally become mutually exclusive on stage. Perhaps common, (perhaps even necessarily implicit), and indeed exhibited freely is the notion that this is not the band nor the audience who are notably unaware of what they are singing (along to). To engage sonically in this crowd is to simultaneously engage in a headspace of vigour, resentment; there is an ache. A catharsis of sorts. And then, of course, there is a remedy.

Review by Jessica Syed

Photography by Fletcher Crebert see more here

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