The Impericon Exposure Tour

We Came As Romans, Chunk! No, Captain Chunk!, The Color Morale and Palm Reader

Club Academy Manchester

February 26th, 2014

Tonight took us to Club Academy in Manchester to see the Impericon Exposure tour.  Of the four bands billed tonight I have only ever encountered one of them previously so I was looking forward to experiencing new bands with no pre conceptions.

Unfortunately, this review doesn't have any photos with it as the stage was lit from the back with strobes facing out to the crowd and every single photo I took either turned out under exposed and so dark you couldn't make out the people on stage or over exposed because of the strobes, and although I've never had brilliant photos from this venue I have had better than the ones taken tonight.

First up tonight were Palm Reader, the only band on tonight's bill that I had seen before.  I encountered these guys at Download in 2013 as they played before a band I desperately wanted to see so I had sat through their set in order to have a space at the barrier for the band following them.

Palm Reader are loud and gnarly and a great band to mosh to if you want to lose yourself in the moment, as the pits came alive even in this small venue.  However for me they were just as average as they were the first time I saw them.

Next up were The Color Morale.  I found all their songs very samey and it was hard to tell where one ended and the next started.  For me, their one saving grace was towards the end of the set when the vocalist told the audience of how a girl had approached him at the merch stand before the show and asked him for a selfie, and how she had taken the picture numerous times because she felt that she never looked good enough on the picture.  He then went on to tell the audience that this girl was beautiful, that no one should ever feel like they are not good enough and that even the biggest rock stars have their insecurities.  Maybe if more teenagers heard this more often from their idols they would stop trying to strive for the image of perfection that magazines and television dictate, and be happy with what they have.  The band then sang a song called 'Steadfast' which was unlike all the others and was a lovely song.  It's a shame that it was only one song that I truly enjoyed in their set.

Next up were Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! a five piece band from Paris.  These guys came on to a play on track that sounded like an old Atari game soundtrack, and launched into what I can only describe as a disco rock set.  All of their songs where very upbeat and bouncy and they had the crowd in the palm of their hands as they bounced and sang along.

Songs in their set included 'In Friends We Trust' and 'Haters Going To Hate' from their last album 'Pardon My French'.

I was really impressed with these guys and would definitely see them again.

Headlining tonight were We Came as Romans who earlier tonight announced that they would be playing this year's Download Festival.

These guys came on stage to a hip hop style backing track and their music can only be described as metal with a hint of hip hop. 

We Came As Romans have two vocalists, one who does the screaming lyrics and one who does the more melodic vocals. The melodies of the songs were strong and easy to listen to, and songs in tonight's set included 'Never Let Me Go' and a brilliant cover of The Wanted's 'Glad You Came'.

We Came As Romans had the crowd dancing, singing and bouncing throughout their set and I would not hesitate to see these guys again.  They are a real feel good band and made a brilliant headliner to the night.