Review: You Me At Six, The Spill Canvas & Emarosa - Portsmouth Pyramids - 12/03/09

Despite looking horribly out of place on the bill, Kentucky's Emarosa certainly hold their own, in front of a sold out crowd. Their brand of post-hardcore certainly doesn't highlight them as the most obvious candidates for one of the UK's poppiest alternative acts in You Me At Six, yet, the audience remain appreciative, despite the almost alien band before them.

Technically, Emarosa are superb, and their vocalist Jonny Craig (formerly of Dance Gavin Dance) is nothing short of phenomenal. Despite this though, you can't help but feel their obvious talent goes largely unnoticed in front of a young crowd, who are more interested in vocal hooks, than musical prowess and skill. Emarosa are a very good band, and with another UK tour in the works, are definitely a band to watch in the coming months.

The Spill Canvas, in comparison to the night's other acts, cut rather drab, dejected figures. The high octane performance of Emarosa was always going to be a hard act to follow, and the slower, emotional cries of The Spill Canvas do very little to raise energy levels, despite their near flawless performance.

There is no doubt though, about tonight's headliners. In a few short months, You Me At Six have transformed from the resident 'dial-a-support' band to worthy headliners in their own right. The packed venue demonstrates precisely how far the band have come since their previous ventures to the south-coast. Less than a year ago, they were heckled and bottled throughout their support set with New Found Glory in the cities smaller venue, the Wedgewood Rooms. Fast forward several months, and they are headlining a venue three times the size, to a sold out crowd.

As the band emerge from a sheeted veil, they are treated to a heroes welcome, by the young and enthusiastic crowd. The new album's better songs are all present, as is a cover of Fall Out Boy's 'Sugar, We're Going Down.' Despite the crowd acknowledging the band as the second coming, the cover demonstrates the band's youth, as they play blatant homage to one of the largest pop-punk acts still plying their trade. Such an immaturity though, is arguably the biggest pull of Surrey's You Me At Six. Few teenagers at their age, with all members around 19, are playing to crowds this size, and in a scene dominated by established American counterparts (such as the aforementioned Fall Out Boy) You Me At Six's recent emergence as UK flag bearers is refreshing, to say the least.

Ending, as always with 'The Rumour,' originality is clearly not on the agenda tonight, as frontman Josh Franceschi proclaims: "Throw your hands in the air like you just dont care!" The cliches are here, but the band come across throughout as sincere, and genuinely appreciative of the unique position they now find themselves. Recently signed to Epitaph records, and playing a sizeable chuck of the iconic Warped Tour, the future is looking very bright youngsters from Weybridge. When they return to these shores following their American jaunt, they can be assured of yet another heroes welcome. Like them or loathe them they are here to stay, for the time being at least.

Chris Powers