Live Review: Silverstein, Sienna Skies, Caulfield, Ghosts On Broadway

The addition of pre-recorded samples in post-hardcore music (otherwise known as synth-core) is one of those things that will rarely work well in a live setting. There's an incredibly fine line between well-grounded dynamism and completely overdoing it, and for local Sydney six-piece Ghosts On Broadway, their performance leaned firmly towards the latter. As impressive as some of the more technical guitar parts were, it was hard to focus on anything but the over-powering electronic parts.

Caulfield made their entrance with bouts of enigmatic hostility directed at the audience. What initially gave the impression of unnecessary over-compensation from the front-man turned out to be an accurate depiction of the band's wonderfully aggressive catalogue, which would alternate between violent emissions of throaty yelps and heartfelt melodic crooning.

Harking back to the temperamental nature of synth-core in live music, Sienna Skies almost hit the nail on the head with their well-integrated keys, but much like their showy introduction (a walk-on to Scribe's Not Many, which they interrupted with an immediate breakdown), the bar was tested and eventually pushed with the inclusion of gratuitous electronic soundscapes inbetween each and every song.

Canadian post-hardcore big-guns Silverstein struck a perfect balance of conviction and frivolity in their first Sydney performance in over six years. It was no surprise that their earlier material went down as crowd favourites, with every word being mimicked by the enthusiastic and, no doubt, die-hard fans, but what came as something of a shock was the fervour performances of the band's latest material. Despite the short existence of This Is How The Wind Shifts, released a mere two months ago, fans were already well versed in the album's contents, exhibiting the same enthusiasm that was given to the most memorable nostalgia trips such as the final encore, Smile In Your Sleep.

It was so easy to forgive the assault of over-dramatic electronica after the set Silverstein put on. I defy any attendee to say in all honesty that they didn't shed at least one tear.