It’s a sold out show tonight, and Rebellion is busy. The Callous Daoboys are roasting hot right now, as they should be. It promises to be an intense, exciting evening for fans of atypical heavy/alternative music.
Love Rarely
Starting tonight off are Love Rarely, who reveal themselves to be a hybrid mix of hardcore, math rock, and post-punk. Playing material from their upcoming debut album, the band put on a convincing performance. The record is called Pain Travels, and based on their set tonight is probably worth checking out.
Despite apparently suffering from flu, Love Rarely play a good warm up slot and seem to go down well with those watching.
Knives
The debut Knives record – Glitter – is an infectious beast. Bringing together influences from punk, nu-metal, hip hop, and more, the Knives sound is simultaneously old-school and unfathomably fresh.
Taking to the stage with ominous sounds and accompanying lights, the band veritably explode into action when they actually start playing. They arrive to a welcome fit for a headliner, and proceed to burn bright with boundless energy.
The band are bursting with movement and enthusiasm. They just don’t stop all the way through, despite protestations of tiredness. Knives deliver a saxophone-enhanced shot of adrenaline into Rebellion, and the place goes wild.
The singer works the crowd well, and there’s absolute carnage in the pit, total mayhem. Ending with a Kate Bush cover, Knives show that they’re worth coming to see regardless of anyone else on the bill.
The Callous Daoboys
Not many bands could capably follow the ball of energy that is Knives, but then The Callous Daoboys are not just any band.
It’s a multifaceted display of potent multigenre mastery. The Callous Daoboys know exactly what they’re doing, and deliver the goods with style and an easy charisma. The Callous Daoboys offer up a crazed, chaotic, wonderfully fun party to Rebellion, and the place swallows it whole and asks for more.
Tonight they pull heavily from last year’s I Don’t Want to See You in Heaven, and why wouldn’t they? It’s hard to deny the effectiveness of songs like opening duo Full Moon Guidance and Two-Headed Trout.
While technical issues are being addressed after Pushing the Pink Envelope, the bassist appeals for support for Love Rarely and Knives, (especially the latter as they suffered an expensive breakdown earlier in the day), and is generally thankful for being here and for the audience.
The band launch into Lemon after that, which is just as anthemic as you’d expect. It transitions seamlessly into the beautiful chaos of What Is Delicious? Who Swarms? It’s a testament to the band’s abilities that they can pull off such disparate styles with ease.
It’s a set of highlights, but Distracted by the Mona Lisa is an obvious one. Idiot Temptation Force sees them briefly joined on stage the bassist of Knives, who promptly jumps right into the crowd.
Older cut Blackberry DeLorean brings the massive heaviness, but then more technical difficulties. The singer says he has bronchitis, so appreciates the crowd singing along. The bassist tells the audience that the whole UK tour is sold out, and thanks everyone for their support.
The singer of Knives is having a lovely time by the side of the stage for Schizophrenia Legacy, before joining them on stage for Tears on Lambo Leather.
Star Baby is one of the best songs The Callous Daoboys have, and it’s a massive hit tonight. Stunning, in fact. This time it’s the saxophonist of Knives who makes an appearance, getting to crowd surf.
The band are coming back with Enter Shikari soon, so the singer says, before they launch into a brief medley of covers by bands like Helmet and Metallica. Then it’s the dynamic punch of The Demon of Unreality Limping Like a Dog, and the stage divers and crowd surfers come thick and fast.
After a brief exit, an encore consists of A Brief Article Regarding Time Loops, which comes ripe with circle pit and other pit shenanigans, before they’re done. The Callous Daoboys win. See them if you can.
Wonderbox Metal 