Reviewed on 14th November 2011.

TRC

Live at Santiago on Saturday, 5th November 2011

This last minute show was put together when TRC had problems with the venue for their planned show in Portsmouth as part of the "Dirty Weekends Tour". So when we found out that the replacement show would be here in Leeds, we knew we just had to get down to see them. Having seen TRC only a handful of times before, all being at festivals, we just knew that tonight when they play upstairs at Santiago will be something amazing. Santiago claim to have a capacity of just over 100 but we count 34 people in the room in total tonight and to be quite honest; it is a tight fit.

Hardships

Hardships are a local band added to the bill for this massive show tonight. We've not managed to catch them anywhere before so we wait with anticipation as (45 minutes late) they take to the stage. On a first glance, 80% of this band looks like they've got their parents waiting outside so they can get home for an early night before school, but when their opening track (finally) kicks in they prove to have musical maturity far beyond their physical years. There are a few people in the crowd that seem to nod along politely, and there is a bit of movement from the crowd but it doesn't look like many people know much more about them than we do. Having said that; they're definitely a band to keep your eye on because the potential is there.

Swimming with Sharks

Swimming with Sharks are a band from "just down the road, like" as vocalist Rhys Robinson puts it. He introduces the band as "Swimming with Sharks, and we like getting baked and fucking shit up". Yes, this band definitely want people to take notice and it seems to have worked for them so far as we're thrown into a stray bench in the small room as the crowd react positively to their hectic presence. Considering they only announced this morning via their Facebook page that they'd be playing this show, they seem very confident about playing with such a well-established band as TRC and it really pays off for them. Swimming with Sharks are definitely a band worth seeing if you ever get the chance.

Malevolence

Malevolence claim to be "the only proper metal band" on this bill and when they start to play we see why; they have insane melodic riffs thrown in at every suitable opportunity and the crowd reacts positively to them. Being main support to TRC can't be an easy job, especially if you don't slot into the same genre, but the Malevolence boys seem to feel at home there. Their confidence rubs off on the crowd who react positively, plenty of moving around and singing along going on. Unfortunately, half way through their set the mic breaks; meaning we don't think this is Malevolence at their full potential. From what we do see though, they're a fantastic up and coming band who are truly dedicated to creating beautifully filthy metal music.

TRC

TRC fly into every crevice of this small room with the energy we know them so well for. They play all of the fan favourites such as 'Define Cocky', 'Go Hard or Go Home' and then, just for good measure, dedicate 'Sweatbox' to the small venue and the people that have made the effort to come out and see them tonight. It's a shame that Prowler have had to pull out of this show, since having collaborated with TRC on their first split in 2003, seeing them together would have been something amazing. After initially fixing the mic problem we get about 15 minutes into this set before it dies on us again. Anthony and Chris however, deal with this efficiently, sharing the one mic despite having many periods where they both require it at the same time. At one point Chris just hands the mic to members of the crowd who pretty much complete an entire song between them. Yes, the true fans are here tonight; every song has people singing along and throwing themselves around the room with the band. It seems TRC have a good night tonight, as they ask people to join them at local club Cockpit after the show. Having seen them before, we knew vaguely what to expect but this was something completely different; the size of the venue definitely had an impact and this new, intimate show was something TRC definitely seem to prefer. The band seem to get a lot of hate for being "cocky" or "chavcore" but it begs the question: Have these people ever seen TRC before? Their live show is faultless. And as they say themselves; you don't have to like them. You're just mad, 'cause they tell it how it is. They may perform songs about "H.A.T.E.R.S." but tonight they are shown nothing but love, and it is very well deserved.