Live Review: Citizen, Postblue, Raccoon City Police Department

Adelaide Uni Bar without a barrier is something that hasn’t been seen in a long time. Whether the promoter or the band insisted on not having a barrier is unsure, but the difference it made was incredible, the crowd now a part of the show, as opposed to simply watching it from metres back.

There was still a long line of people entering the venue as Raccoon City Police Department played the opening notes to Pathfinder, the last track off their 2012 EP. Their second song was off their upcoming split with Tired Minds, a song that had elements of grunge and post-hardcore with a screamo bridge. It was quite different to anything they’ve released before, but at the same time still familiar. Overall playing a strong set with the crowd enjoying what they were hearing, Raccoon City Police Department are a band on the rise.

Main tour supports Postblue took the stage next to play their ‘90s-influenced music. Picking up a lot of fans in recent times all over the country, Postblue played a tight set, although their unoriginal sound and dragged-out set made them fall short of being anything other than boring.

Citizen came on stage to a full Uni Bar and launched into a track off their debut album, The Summer, the crowd singing along. They sounded full and were mixed excellently. All members had great stage presence and had the crowd in the collective palm of their hand as they played songs mostly off their latest album, Youth. The band playing an earlier song, Drown, off their split with Turnover, saw the crowd moving the most it probably did all night and the band reciprocated, before launching into Sleep. Security started to get in front of the crowd, supposedly because of all the crowd surfing, but were quickly called away by band managers who were obviously displeased with them. Citizen finished their set with The Night I Drove Alone, but were called back on stage for an encore (a real one). The band conversed with each other before playing an energetic Drawn Out, finishing strong. Citizen proved the wait was definitely worth it for their first trip to Australia, leaving the Adelaide crowd satisfied and overly pleased.