Call Upon The Author

After a ridiculous amount of mishaps pre-gig (torrential rain, witnessing a bar fight, exploding electronic cigarette), my mate Laura and I were absolutely ready for Twin Atlantic to either be a huge disappointment, or rock our socks off. Thankfully, it was the latter, and I can honestly say that this is a band you should definitely go check out live if you get the opportunity.
Despite it being a drenched Sunday night, the crowd were grinning and excited, and the band more than reciprocated. They bounded on stage looking for all the world like it was the first night of the tour rather than the last, and really gave it some welly. By song three, there was bouncing and hand-clapping, all thoroughly encouraged by frontman Sam McTrusty, who yelled at us all to join in if we didn’t want the weekend to be over.
Twin Atlantic have a great sound on record, and it translates just perfectly to a live environment. Sam’s vocals sounded effortless and confident, and backed up by their signature dirty bass and squawking, gorgeous guitar, this is a band who have understood all the elements of great rock music and have not messed with that formula at all. Some songs were darkly grungy, some euphoric and beautiful – and the crowd were totally, completely into it. I got a bit lost in it myself, and actually had goosebumps on my face at one moment. I wasn’t, however, as lost as the blissed-out guy stood behind me, who howled every lyric into his pained-looking girlfriend’s ear – but it’s all part of the fun!
Combine great band enthusiasm with a euphoric atmosphere, and a whole crowd of Portsmouth people singing in what was recognisably a Scottish accent, and you might just have yerself a perfect Sunday evening. Well, we could have done without the floods and slight fear of death, but Twin Atlantic were flippin excellent.