Live Review: La Dispute, Pianos Become The Teeth, Travels

American post-hardcore innovators La Dispute have dogged it out on Australian tours in the past relegated to tiny, sweaty rooms. But tonight The Hi-Fi's mezzanine level is open, the floor's crowded and it feels like the five-piece are finally gettin' their dues. Local five-piece Travels are first up; they play hardcore with an indie rock sense of vulnerability to avoid falling into a cesspool of chug'n'slam meatheadedness, and are an apt fit to be on the bill. Their take on hardcore holds the audience's attention throughout, the dense layering of the material from their Life LP and their forthcoming Death & Things Between 7” sounding dynamic and engrossing live. The two guitarists deftly work off each other to capture both the sonic and emotional nuance of the numbers, without sacrificing any energy required to get the first few rows moving around.

The response to the entrance of Pianos Become The Teeth would make the layman assume the headliner had started early. The Maryland five-piece are met with an astounding response as they veer down a shoegazey path. Like individual, deftly-plotted narratives, the band's efforts from The Lack Long After album progress towards satisfying payoffs and rewarding endings. But unlike the records, there's an imperfect appeal to Pianos Become The Teeth's live show; a distortion pedal ridden slightly too hard, the emotions in Kyle Durfey's vocals pushing him off an album-perfect delivery. It's so much more captivating to witness the band live than on record, and judging by the crowd's response we hopefully won't have to wait too long before someone brings them back for their own headlining tour.

The entire evening has so far been a snapshot of top-shelf modern hardcore, but La Dispute are headliners for a reason. Maybe we've now come far enough from Simple Plan for the stigma of playing emo-adjascent tunes to no longer be a kiss of death. Maybe La Dispute just rule. Because the Michigan outfit explode into the front row's faces with an energy that is contagious, and the pit starts moving accordingly. With so many releases to choose from, La Dispute hit song after song without a wrong move. Jordan Dreyer wins over just about everyone in attendance as he orates above the spastic noise breaks and the quiet passages that give the crowd a moment's respite from dancing. Their set is quick, fun and sweaty even though they're playing in a nice big room. Which makes you wonder where they'll play on their next tour.