The Fall Of Troy + Tiny Moving Parts @ The Asylum, 17th September 2016
I’m not going to lie, its been a long time since I actually listened to The Fall of Troy; a very long time. Yes it was Guitar Hero that first turned me on to them and Doppelgänger is the last record I actually owned of theirs so I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve not exactly been the most fervent fan of the band. Saying that ,seeing that they were playing Birmingham got my attention and its the Asylum tonight that will play host to the proggy/mathy/hardcore rock styles of the Washington band.
I totally dropped the ball when it came to Tiny Moving Parts (, not realising that it was a ridiculously early show I only managed to catch the last 2 songs and I was literally kicking myself as I rushed into the venue. Can I review a performance off of 2 songs? Hell yeah I can because what I saw and heard on that stage was true passion from the Minnesotans and boy did they have a fair few fans in the crowd tonight. Its no surprise really, they’ve just released one hell of a new record called ‘Celebrate’ and if you like your emo with a side of mathy guitars then you should definitely check these guys out! The songs are as catchy as hell and the lyrics aren’t at all contrived. They closed the set with the true emotional banger ‘Dakota’ off of their début record ‘This Couch is Long & Full of Friendship’ and the crowd are totally digging it. There’s a huge grin on Dylan’s face and I’m smiling too and hoping that they come back very soon so I can actually get to watch a full set, I was teased tonight with those 2 delightful songs and it’s all my fault. Come back Tiny Moving Parts, we need more bands like you!
Band releases a handful of records – band breaks up – band has a reunion show – band gets back together and releases new music; it’s a story as old as time in this fickle musical climate and The Fall of Troy are no different. The thing is though, they’re back, they have new music and evidentially people still give a shit because they are playing the main room tonight and there are more than a few people here to see them play.
There are only 3 members of The Fall of Troy which is hard to believe with the amount of noise coming from the stage and the sheer complexity of musicianship, especially from guitarist and front-man Thomas Erak whose fingers dance over his fretboard like a cat on acid. Even though I barely know any songs I still had an immensely fun time watching The Fall of Troy, they have such a captivating live show, each member has their little nuances which finds my eyes flitting across the stage wondering who to keep my eyes on. The band remark on the fact that they tried to get the barrier removed/moved closer but their request was denied, its definitely a bone of contention for many American touring artists and just something they are going to have to suck up unfortunately, we’re used to it in the UK which is a shame but I don’t see venues of this size getting rid of the barrier any time soon.
Erak is certainly a bit of a joker, playing to the crowd as he covers his eyes his fingers whipping up and down his guitar neck not missing a note. There’s a whole lot of dudes in the room and I’m feeling very outnumbered as I can practically taste the testosterone in the air, everyone seems to be good spirits though especially one guy who is going absolutely nuts for every song, I salute you sir! Things take a turn for the weird early on in the set ,have you seen the film Aladdin? Well you know that song, you know the one, ‘A Who New World’, for some weird and glorious reason the band give it the Fall of Troy treatment and the grown men in the crowd channel their inner child and help the band out by singing the lyrics!
Bassist Tim Ward seems to battling with his emotions up on the stage he literally angry danced his guitar off at one point and then goes on to seduce Erak during ‘Macaulay McCulkin’. Things get stranger still when Erak hands off his guitar to the sound tech and just wanders off stage. Its all building up to the closer which of course is going to be the massive, air guitar inducing ‘F.C.P.R.E.M.I.X.’, there’s a twist though as the members of Tiny Moving Parts switch places with The Fall of Troy and totally surprise the crowd with a magnificent cover. Its obvious they are absolutely loving it up on stage, the crowd are absolutely loving it on the floor and I am grinning from ear to ear, I can think of worse ways to spend my Saturday…
Review: Hannah Sebestjanowicz
Photographs: Adriana Vasile