“All you get is this performance, we’re all performing anyhow.”
Following the release of sixth album Spiral in a Straight Line, as well as a triumphant performance on the rain-soaked main stage of Outbreak Fest this summer, Touché Amoré return to the UK and EU with a two-month tour of small, intimate shows. Nestled under a train bridge just off Manchester’s crowded Oxford Road, the barrierless Gorilla was the perfect venue for a night of emotional hardcore. Shoegazers trauma ray accompanied the band from America across all dates of the tour, who were joined by Brighton’s own Chalk Hands for the UK run of shows.
Words by Sophie Robinson from the Manchester show, photography by Dobbin T in London – contact prior to any use.
For the foreseeable, Chalk Hands will consider this opening the start of their resume. Their mathy-screamo debut record should be a considered a genre classic already, and whilst they’re not signed to Jeremy Bolm’s Secret Voice label, their sound fits neatly into the mix of Sonagi, Infant Island, and Heavenly Blue, with added technical flair. Their backline provided ridiculous drums that let the tappy guitar breaks lead the way. They are careful not to shoot for the most expected melodic passages, wrapping you in a more compelling heartbreak, and they hardly dip into distortion to retain a tone-in-your-fingers feel. The shout-screamed vocals came from both guitarists, not too dissimilar in their delivery but very effective for call and response antics. They mostly played from Don’t Think About Death with some road tests of songs which are about to be recorded that took the technicality up an additional notch. The new track “Sadness in C Major” was fittingly the brightest sounding track, stepping into Midwest emo territory, but no less furious. They rightly ended on “Fail, Grasp, Restore” which included some choice lines screamed off mics in the breaks.
On next came trauma ray, who’s debut LP chameleon made it to Boolin Tunes’ 2024 Albums of the Year list. Texas, Fort Worth residents, trauma ray entered the stage to a country number which was soon drowned out by a sea of feedback as they kicked into a snippet of “Liftoff” before beginning in earnest with “Ember”. The band’s post harcore riffing was contrasted by sections of clean arpeggiated chords, with the three guitarists creating waves of ambience through intertwining hooks, coming together when the distortion was kicked in for an impenetrable wall of noise. Shrouded in fog and sickly green lighting, frontman Uriel Avila’svocals were soft spoken, blending into the guitars in typical shoegaze fashion. As the set progressed, they began to move into heavier territory, such as the blistering “Bardo”, whose chuggy riffs were brought to life by the punchy bass, cutting through the instrumental din to round out the body of the band’s harsh sound.
Touché Amoré entered the stage to little fanfare, launching immediately into a rendition of “Nobody’s”, the lead single of Spiral in a Straight Line. After over ten years of performing together, the band’s passion is undeniable in their intense performance. Fronted by the seemingly unstoppable Jeremy Bolm,Touché Amoré took the audience on a breakneck tour of their back catalogue, from live debuts of tracks from the latest album, to classics like “New Halloween”which inspired a wave of crowd-surfers rushing over the small stage. Armed with a sparkle-finish Jazzmaster, with a sequined suit to match, Nick Steinhardt’s glassy tones were perfect for the style of emo-inspired riffs Touché have become known for, and when paired with fellow guitarist Clayton Stevens, could produce crushingly heavy sounds despite the unconventional choice of instrument. The band’s usual line up was joined by Sam Bosson, filling in for their studio drummer following the birth of a child. Bosson, who had previously played with Ceremony, was a worthy addition, keeping up with rapid blast beats and softer, rhythmic sections alike.
Bolm’s voice, strong and clear as ever, rose above the rest of the band, his every word amplified by the voices of hundreds of fans. The connection between Bolm and his audience, fueled by the honest lyricism of his post-hardcore ballads, can be seen in full display live, as the sea of people pushed towards him with arms outstretched. Touché Amoré remains a force to be reckoned with, unparalleled in their ability to engage a crowd with their unrelenting emotional assault. The night ended with an encore performance of “Limelight,” featuring a surprise guest appearance from Avila of Trauma Ray on backing vocals, as the crowd chanted along “So let’s embrace the twilight / While burning out the limelight.”
Check out our reviews of Touché Amoré‘s Spiral In A Straight Line and Trauma Ray‘s Chameleon.