It looked like Bridgend was having a well earned night off and given time to breathe (well someone down there has to) from all those who claim to be misunderstood and twisted by life's hatred. You get the picture.

Unfortunately I missed the first band who were called We Are The Ocean. I could make something up about them being washed out or a bit fishy, but I won't. From what was being said around the venue they were a decent opening act. Looking at their site they're that Nu Punk/Thrash crossover ala Trivium. Not a bad sound really.

Brigade were the band stuck in the middle and did a decent job of getting the crowd whipped up for the main act. On first impressions think early Muse but a little more melodic, a heavy Placebo in places and, at times, the Foo Fighters - but still in keeping with all that is synonymous with the current Emo scene.

Sounds weird I know, but an enjoyable band who set up camp on the heavy/pop border with Emoland and settled in nicely. At one point a few of the kiddies even tried to start a mosh pit. They had the concept down, but I couldn't help but think of those started at Donington year after year. I've a feeling they'd be a little concerned had they been in a 'proper' pit. Bless 'em for trying though.

And so to the main event. If you were to tell people you were going to see the lead singer from Busted live you'd get more than a raised eyebrow and funny look. Well you would in the musical circles I mix.
What people don't understand is that Fightstar aren't Busted re-invented. If anything they're the grown up, rebellious alter ego of that nice little lad who always remembered his manners.

Starting with the opening bars of Diamondheads Am I Evil (yes the one Metallica did) got them off to a good start, despite me thinking that only a handful of the crowd would realise it wasn't a Fightstar original. A mix of Nu Metal meets Trivium meets Foo Fighters meets Funeral For a Friend meets Biffy Clyro to a degree. Again, you get the picture.

With Charlie and his eyebrows now entertaining a darker approach than his previous musical outbursts and most certainly a heavier edge to 'emo-core', this band are tight and know how to make the right noises. Maybe it's what the emos have been waiting for. Something heavier than the likes of My Chemical Romance which they can further get their teeth into and chew out all the hate in their lives.

Sounding alot like Ray Wilson from Stiltskin, it would seem that Mr Simpson's roots lie in material alot heavier than his Busted days would have you think. Record company intervention perhaps? It matters not, because chances are Fightstar wouldn't be as popular as they are if it wasn't for his past and that has to be a good thing.

As has been said this band are tight. They range from the melodic to the downright noisy and the crowd were lapping it up.

So basically if it's Busted you were expecting then unlucky. If it's a polished and heavy sound in the Emo vein, then just maybe this is your bag.

Three bands with simliar styles playing this kind of music was always going to be a sellout and that's exactly what happened.

Finally, it looks like the Intake Club have cured their electrical gremlins.

It would seem that kicking out that amount of power through single phase wasn't healthy, hence it tripping out a lot. It didn't happen once during the gig and believe me there was some power being shipped through that place that night.

— The Hipster

Did you go to the gig? Let us know what you thought below