So it was off to Cardiff for me again to see the Welsh leg of the Trash Boat/Blood Youth joint headline tour. Last time I went to the downstairs room in Clwb Ifor Bach was for a intimate meet and greet and acoustic show with American pop-punkers Set It Off, with the main event being held in the larger room upstairs. So to see a proper gig in the small room without a stage was going to be a different experience.
Opening the show was Welsh pop-rockers Glass Giants, the Cynon Valley five-piece were without bassist Anson Day, who’s shoes were superbly filled by Falling With Style’s Ben Elliott (who is making a habit of stepping in as this followed an appearance on stage with When We Were Wolves at 2000 Trees!). The set included fan favourites D.A.N.C.E and Runaway. The stage (if it could be called a stage) was too small to keep the bundles of energy frontman Ross Dixon had, however the set had the crowd buzzing from start to finish.
Next up were Pontypridd post-hardcore quintet Falling With Style, with Ben back on his own bands bass. At times it was hard to hear the impressive vocals from young frontman Lucas Woodland, however their infectious energy and super guitar riffs were enough to keep the crowd entertained during the six song set which included tracks Half Measures and Daylight from their EP “Lost and Found”.
First of the headliners were Hertfordshire based pop-punkers Trash Boat. Their energetic stage presence and intriguing take on the genre showed why Hopeless Records snapped them up alongside British pop-punk acts including Roam and Neck Deep and American giants All Time Low. The ever-attentive crowd were treated to a nine-track set including fan-fvourites Perspective and Boneless and current single Eleven which is also featured on Kerrang Fresh Blood this week. Vocalist Tobi Duncan’s powerful vocals combined with the energy of his bandmates, made for a brilliant set worthy of a larger venue.
Closing the show was Lincoln bred melodic hardcore quintet Blood Youth. The band, formerly known as Climates before the departure of vocalist Wes Thompson in late 2014, truly brought the party with props including prehistoric dinosaurs and summer palm tree inflatables. New vocalist Kaya Tarsus showed the new lease of life brought to the band with a lively performance of hits including Failure and Dead Space. The band, seemed in the zone in what was one of their early shows in what is sure to be a long career for the Rude Records backed five-piece.