Billy Talent @ Ambassador Theatre Dublin
June 9, 2007
Appearances can be deceiving. By all accounts, Billy Talent is a young band just releasing their second album. Hell, it’s even called II. But like most stories worth hearing, the best part often lies beneath the surface.
While II is the Toronto-based quartet’s sophomore record, the number hardly seems appropriate for this group of friends that first began this journey 13 years ago. And it’s those years of grounded experience that kept them from sacrificing II to the dreaded second album curse.
The band will be the first to admit that the last three years has been like living a rock n’ roll dream. Whether jamming backstage with their musical idols or showing up to awards ceremonies in a full-on military tank, Billy Talent has taken advantage and fully appreciate where they are and how far they’ve come. But it was working day jobs and playing everything from rented suburban halls to downtown Toronto dives for more than a decade that set the stage for their explosive debut, so it’s no wonder the band wanted a return to regular life in order to refuel for the follow-up.
Their self-titled major label debut came out swinging, establishing the band as a melodic tsunami of fist-in-the-air rock n’ roll that garnered the guys accolades from Best New Group, Group of the Year and Album of the Year Junos trophies to Best Video and Best Rock Video MuchMusic awards, as well as a passionate following of fans at home and abroad.
For the follow-up, Billy Talent maintains the elements that makes them who they are – hard-hitting, hook-filled, tight arrangements with an edge – but with a more refined sense of purpose.
The album seamlessly weaves such the issue-based songs with more personal tales, from friends falling victim to drug addiction in “Fallen Leaves,” to hipster snobbery in “Where is the Line?” to dealing with people who don’t stand by their convictions in “Covered in Cowardice” – the music sets the scene while the words tell the vivid stories.
Like getting to know a good friend better over time, their lyrics and sound are familiar but delve deeper into who Billy Talent is and where they stand. The first 13 years of their career established them as an authentic, honest and direct force of energy and these next 13 songs add to that legacy. Welcome to part II.
The show in Dublin is sure to be a European Tour highlight – great band, fun city, small interesting venue, and a great album. If you make the trip also note the added benefit that Megadeth is playing the next night in the same venue! Stick around for both nights and party like crazy in Temple Bar.
Side Shows
What trip to Dublin would be complete without an afternoon (or whole day) at the Guiness Brewery. Make sure you try the tour and go all the way to the end – last stop is a pub with the best view of Dublin’s skyline and some of the best pints in the city. Enjoy!
How to Get There
There are regular flights daily from London in the UK. Also flights from the US are possibly connecting through Boston. Check out options on Hotwire.
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