8 years since their last visit to the UK, DAYSEEKER return to verify their continued rise over the last few years. Tonight, performing at the largest venue of the UK leg of their current tour, DAYSEEKER arrive at Manchester’s New Century Hall to define themselves as a powerhouse in the alternative scene.
Main support for the evening are Portsmouth based post-hardcore outfit ACRES who, following a brief false start due to technical difficulties, bring a set packed full of wide-open riffs, catchy vocal hooks and head banging rhythms to get the crowd moving. They dutifully get the first mosh pits of the evening open for business, notably endeared by the crowd from the off. Stealing the show though, is vocalist Ben Lumber, who strains and pierces with each word, truly breathing life and soul into every moment. They close with the anthemic Lonely World allowing for a final mosh pit during their tenure on stage, a conclusive unmissed opportunity for the room to warm up for tonight’s headliners.
At last, after such a long wait for their return, it’s time for the emotional post-hardcore outfit DAYSEEKER to finally announce themselves to the UK as a force to be recognised. They open with Dreamstate to a heroic response, with the whole crowd involved in singing from the off. DAYSEEKER provide a unique blend of modern metal riffs and punching breakdowns with emotional nostalgic pop hooks, raised loftier by the beguiling abilities of vocalist Rory Rodriguez. He belts the songs with a personal clarity that inspires the whole room, and that connection is notably a huge aspect of their attraction.
Rodriguez comments on their association as a sad band writing songs for when you’re going through a hard time alone, defining what makes them a band providing such release for everyone in the room. He sings so openly about struggles and negative thoughts but does so in a manner which loses no strength or agency, empowering anyone who listens to not feel alone. Countering this, they plunge into Homesick, which he describes as their honest attempt at a positive song. A moment of relief is provided when Rodriguez and guitarist Gino Sgambelluri slow down proceedings for acoustic track Paper Heart in a truly serene moment, before drummer Mike Karle and bassist Ramone Valerio return in the tracks climax.
The catharsis in their melancholy is undoubtedly at the root of what makes so many enamoured with DAYSEEKER. They have no reluctance in brutal honesty and acceptance of the darker sides of your mind, and this acceptance allows for great relief for everyone in the room tonight. Throughout their set, scarcely a word goes unsung by the room, leaving little doubt in anyone’s minds that DAYSEEKER have barely scratched the surface of their potential, and perhaps allows hope that the wait for their next return will not be so distant as that for tonight.
