Billy Talent celebrate their 25th anniversary at the Winterthurer Musikfestwochen

I missed out on the Billy Talent gig a few weeks ago at Dynamo so I was super happy when I got the accreditation from the Winterthurer Musikfestwochen. Some stats at for you at the beginning. I was 2 when Billy Talent decided to make music together and when Red Flag came out I was 14. So they were the sound of my teen years. Seeing them now took me back and I felt like a teenie again haha

Black Foxxes

Black Foxxes are three lads from Exeter, England. They did a great job warming up the crowds who were already there saving the best spots for Billy Talent. The guys were able to do slow quiet songs but also loud ones – which I really loved. I’d see them again since they seem quite talented and of course funny – they are English after all 🙂

Turbostaat

I didn’t know the band. But apparently they liked their last gig at the Winterthurer Musikfestwochen 5 years ago that much that they took a break from their break and performed here. What an honour! 🙂 I have to say the music didn’t really resonate with me – it was German Punk Rock. I don’t know why but it didn’t click so we – Shirley from Loads of Music – and I decided to find a bench somewhere and sit down. Get a little break before Billy Talent 🙂

Billy Talent

Billy Talent came on even 5mins before they were supposed to. They were just ready to go on stage. I love that! 😀 With “Devil in A Midnight Mass” they started off with a bang! I think everyone was ready to rock out. The first beer flew through the air as well and I heard the mosh pits were already wild. And then Ben said something I didn’t expect at all and Billy Talent made their way into heart even more. He thanked us for coming out and he was glad everyone was enjoying themselves but he warned the lads in the mosh pits. Please be careful there are women and children close by so make sure to watch out a bit. Lovely and unexpected! 🙂

That said the party went on with “This Suffering”, “Big Red Gun”, “Turn Your Back”. Every time I thought I knew the song again because to be honest with you I do have all the records on my iPod but I don’t know every song by heart. So I was always listening to the first chords of the guitar played by Ian and waited if I knew it. It was quite funny. I always said ohh I knew the song but then I didn’t really. But I think I’ve listened to it but it didn’t properly register haha

Shirley finally caught up with me after her work of taking AMAZING pics was done – yes check out her blog! So I decided to hop on to the barrier and enjoy the gig from a bit higher up since I barely saw anything standing. So I saw how they performed “Ghost Ship of Cannibal Rats”, “The Ex”, “Saint Veronika” and “Diamond on a Landmine”. Ben was fascinated by the people who were hanging out the windows on the sides because let’s face it what else could the people who live there do except listening to the gig. It was such a special venue in the middle of the city where people actually lived. At one point I was seriously afraid that those guys would fall out the window haha

On it went with “The Crutch” and “The Navy Song”. Ben now said that their drummer Aaron was diagnosed with MS and is not able to play a full show anymore but he’s here right now and will take over the drums from Jordan for the next few songs. I had goosebumps. The original Billy Talent, Ben, Aaron, Ian and Jonathan started playing “Rusted from Rain” and the crowd gave out a loud cheer. What A Tune!! “Pins and Needles” and “Surrender” completed Aaron’s songs. I was in my element! 😀 But obviously I also had to take good pics for my blog so I was super focused at the same time.

“February Winds”, “Surprise Surprise” – which everyone belted out – “Afraid of Heights and “Try Honesty” followed. After the JT gig I had to quickly change the genre and listen to a lot of Billy Talent 😀 So one day after that amazing gig I went to bed with “Devil On My Shoulder” stuck in my head! I love that song and now that I was actually hearing it live it was even better! Obviously it stayed in my head again 😀 After an hour the four Canadian guys left the stage only to come back for the biiiig finale.

After “Viking Death March” Ben started a little speech:

Remember this feeling when you leave here! We’re all together as strangers from different walks of life, from different back grounds, different religions – none of it fucking matters!

As soon as the first chords of “Red Flag” rang around the Steinberggasse the red flares started to fire up. What I saw on a video afterwards is that around those two red flares a huge mosh pit was formed! It’s crazy, it’s mayhem, it’s punk! The whole street sang the song and it was amazing listening to this huge singalong. The clapping and the singing continued even more with the final song of the night: “Fallen Leaves”. Cracking finish to a brilliant show by those 5 talented Canadians! I hope to rock out to them again. Here’s to another 25 🙂
Have you been to a Billy Talent show? Share your stories below 🙂

Check out my latest gigs: Tyler Hilton & Kate Voegele, Ed Sheeran, Justin Timberlake