Gig Review: Billy Talent

The Sex Pistols were punk, Metallica metal, and Billy Talent, are, well… Billy Talent. A four piece band from Canada, Billy Talent clearly displays a unique sound and a GREAT performance. A ‘great’ band is often one who sounds just as good as their CDs. Billy Talent exceeded this quality at their live Brisbane gig at the Arena on April 24 with an overwhelming blast of energy. You could literally feel the music pulsating through your body from head to toe. With the unfortunate inclusion of the local Brisbane support band, Take 21 (a band so Emo it could make your ears bleed), Billy Talent performed an outstanding show that can be enjoyed time and time again only to leave you wanting more every time. Amazing, Explosive, Awesome and Energetic; only a handful of words to explain the band’s “you gotta be there” performance. Benjamin Kowalewicz, the lead singer (physically small but vocally big), entertained the crowd from start to finish. He moved across the stage as if he was on fire. At the beginning of the show, he said his few words, “If anyone falls down, YOU pick them back up again… And gentlemen, please take care of the women in the audience tonight.” He later went on to say, “I believe in treating women like princesses”, receiving a loud cheer from the audience. This was an event not to be missed, and one that should be bought and watched repeatedly on DVD.

A few reviews about the band from other sources:

"Every once in a while, a band comes along that makes your blood pump faster than normal, Billy Talent is that band." Rolling Stone

“One of the fastest rising bands in the punk rock genre at the moment.” Bombshellzine Mailout.

I believe it is hard to define what genre this band fits into. Is it Punk? Is it Rock? It is Punk Rock? Or just plain Billy Talent; a genre of its own. It doesn’t sound like your typical three-chord punk band. Each member of Billy Talent uses their instruments with great expertise and, well, talent. Yet their lyrics are some what political. “Worker Bees,” (a song title from their second album) “is about George Bush…” Ben Kowalewicz describes during the show. Another song is ‘Red Flag’. The red flag generally symbolizes workers, in particular angry ones. It represents the ideology of the leftists.

Here is a slice of the lyrics from Red Flag:

cast off the crutch that kills the pain
the red flag waving never meant the same
the kids of tomorrow don't need today
when they live in the sins of yesterday
light a fire
there'll be water
like a jury
needs a liar
like a riot
don’t need order
like a madman
needs a martyr
we don't need them

In conclusion, if you didn’t go and see Billy Talent live, you missed one amazing, explosive, awesome and energetic show. They are a unique band with a unique style and have worked hard for 13 years to get where they are today. I can’t wait for their next album.