The Sunday rain couldn’t keep eager concertgoers away from 170 Russell in Melbourne, where Broadside, This Wild life, Hot Chelle Rae, Cartel and Anberlin rolled into town for Destroy All Lines’ An Emo Extravaganza.
Announced late last year, there was lots of hyper surrounding this event. Still, a last-minute venue downsize for Melbourne hinted that ticket sales hadn’t quite met expectations. Cashing with other massive concerts like Good Charlotte, Kesha and The Band Camino likely didn’t help matters either. Even so, the crowd that did show up was eager for a night of back-to-back emo bangers.
On paper, it was a tight, nostalgic-heavy lineup. Perhaps adding more mid-sized acts may have boosted sales, but with most punters clearly there for Cartel and Anberlin, spirits were high from the outset. The lead-up felt slightly shaky, with set times only dropping on the day, and the venue change was communicated mainly via email rather than public posts. It certainly left me feeling uncertain, but with doors opening early and the first band kicking off at 4m there was at least the promise of an early night, a blessing for a crowd largely in their 30s.
Broadside and This Wild Life kicked things off to a modest but enthusiastic audience. A handful pressed up against the barrier while others grabbed drinks and scouted the merch desk. Both bands played solid sets, with This Wild Life playing their 2014 record Clouded in full.
Hot Chelle Rae hit the stage at 6 pm- a curious inclusion for many. Personally, their album Whatever was the soundtrack to my early teen years, and their 2012 Festival Hall show remains a core concert memory. But with frontman Ryan Follese departing in 2023, the current lineup features just two original members: drummer Jamie Follese and guitarist-turned-lead vocalist Chad Overstreet. The set was definitely energetic and packed with nostalgia, yet it felt slightly out of place alongside the other acts. While the crowd happily danced along to the hits, the performance itself didn’t quite land as strongly as hoped.
Cartel, however, were undeniably fantastic. Marking their first Australian appearance as a band in over thirteen years, anticipation was sky-high. Frontman Will Pugh, who Aussie audiences may have spotted playing guitar for New Found Glory at December’s Good Things Festival, looked thrilled to be back. Performing the iconic Chroma in full, the band delivered a near-flawless set. Vocals were incredible, instrumentation was tight and the crowd response was loud.
Closing the night, Anberlin took to the stage at the very civilised time of 8:45 pm. Playing their beloved album Never Take Friendship Personal in full, they were a fitting finale. They proved that this album still resonates, and the way they commanded the room was effortless. Their encore consisted of beloved tracks from other albums, including “The Resistance”, “High Stakes”, “Impossible” and, finally, “Godspeed”.
Despite some communication hiccups in the lead-up, An Emo Extravaganza ultimately delivered where it mattered the most: on the stage. The streamlined schedule kept momentum high, the changeovers were smooth and every band looked genuinely happy to be there. Though there were clear favourites, punters embraced every act. For a rainy summer Sunday in Melbourne, it was a pretty great way to relive a few formative years.
THREE AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Feature image: Cartel, credit: self.
