March 7th marked a very special moment; Touché Amoré's first ever visit to Athens. As soon as the show was announced, I was ecstatic. I've been fortunate enough to catch them a few times over the past decade and the California-based quintet never disappoints. Their latest album, "Spiral In A Straight Line", also hit a very soft spot for me so I was extra motivated to make my way downtown on that Friday evening.
Psycorepaths from Athens kicked the evening off. Like many people, the decision to have such a different-sounding band opening felt baffling mainly because their "brute" music was directly juxtaposing the refined dissonance of Touché Amoré. The band went on with a melodic intro and transitioned into their trademark hardcore blend. They seemed to have a good time performing, with the vocalist moshing his way through the stage. I guess the excitement to be sharing the stage with such an influential act took over their professionalism and consequently, while their sound was pretty okay, they failed to capture the audience, which was looking forward to seeing the headliners.
Touché Amoré got on with "Nobody's", and giant smiles on their faces. Vocalist Jeremy Bolm introduced the band and thanked the thrilled fans, who were singing along from the very first song, for the warm welcome. "Art Official", "Nine" and "Praise/Love" followed, kicking our old souls straight into the (nostalgic) feels. Bolm was eager to let our voices ring, occasionally also sharing the mic with the front row. The band's energy was nothing short of electric. Despite this being their final show of the tour, they gave it their all, living in the moment, dancing and jumping around. Their studio-quality sound enhanced the experience as we were able to hear clearly every single detail of their complex soundscapes.
The setlist, albeit showcasing the latest release, paid great homage to "...To The Beat Of A Dead Horse" and "Parting The Sea...", which made me exceptionally happy seeing as both records hold a very dear place in my heart. And judging by people's reactions, a lot of people felt that way. Naturally, it was "Honest Sleep" that invoked exuberant reactions given that the crowd consisted -to a great extent- of older scene people, who have either had the fortune to see the band at small DIY festivals before they broke out, or had been inspired to play melodic/post hardcore sound themselves. The ripple effect of TA's sentimental flashbacks continued through "Face Ghost" and "New Halloween", only for "Disasters" to lead us into the emotional rollercoaster that "Harbor" is. "Palm Dreams" got a very loud singalong, which was only rivaled by "~"'s final words (RIP throat). I was also delighted to hear "Force Of Habit", one of my personal favorites on "Spiral...", and "Flowers And You". The sheer aching in Jeremy's voice is ever-present, even a decade after his mother's passing, and for anyone who's experienced such a major loss in the recent years, this song felt like a cleansing. With "Limelight" as the encore, Touché Amoré said their goodbyes and promised to be back soon.
I can only summarize the night in the words of a friend: "not a dry eye in the house". It was a pure, cathartic experience which resonated with all of us, for different reasons. And that's exactly where TA's craft lies. Their emotive expression is best felt in intimate shows, not big festivals, and this show was a testament to that.
Photos courtesy of Dearohwell photography
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