Undertone, Cardiff’s little basement venue is the destination for tonight as post-hardcorers Canvas promote their recently released album Worry.
Due to work and the delay to all the trains (thanks football and Arriva Trains Wales…), I arrive at the venue almost at the end of local and opening band Defeatist. What I did catch though really impressed me with tight vocals and great guitar work. they are a promising band for sure!
As soon as Defeatist finish, the room almost empties as people head upstairs to check on the latest score in the football that was being played just up the road (I mean it was Wales’ last chance to qualify for the World Cup so you know, priorities!) but they were all back in time for Wilderness to start. Admittedly (and at first ashamedly) I’d never heard of the band but then this was their first show so I didn’t feel as bad (or out of touch with the local scene). They are an impressive bunch though! Sounding tight and well-rehearsed for such an ‘inexperienced’ band.
Yet again the room empties as people are praying for Wales to come back from a 1-0 deficit (I know you probably don’t care about the football but hey, it was part of the night!) and as tonight’s headliners Canvas take to the stage (albeit slightly earlier than billed), they are playing to just a small number of the earlier crowd, however as they progress through their set, this number grows as people return. Performance wise, the band were flawless, tight screams, melodic cleans and it was great to hear some of the tracks from Worry live.
Overall the talent on show shows that the UK hardcore scene (in all of it’s sub-genres and glory) is going strong with the emergence of great bands (three of which proved this tonight). It was a shame to see such a small crowd but then with Wales vs Ireland AND Stray From The Path all in Cardiff on the same night, you can only be in one place at a time, and for those who were at Undertone, they did not leave disappointed by what they saw (just gutted about the result of the football). If you ever get a chance to check out Canvas, Wilderness and/or Defeatist, I strongly suggest you do!