Dr Martens âStand For Somethingâ Tour @ The Louisiana, 12/10/13
When Dr Martens released their Autumn/Winter 2013 campaign âStand For Somethingâ, I instinctively asked myself âwhat do I actually stand for?â- A question, which I have never truly asked myself until now. After minutes, hours, days of asking, I realized that I stand for being me. Being true to myself, being true to who I am, and ultimately, not really caring about anyone elseâs input into whom I am, or what I do. These thoughts reiterated that individuality is key, not just to me, but also to everyone. This, essentially, is what Dr Martens targeted with said campaign. Everyone stands for something, and those around us should respect that.
âŠ. On the 12th of October, Bristol held their âStand For Somethingâ tour, which had the unsurprisingly so all girl fan base band Young Guns headlining. Before the 7pm kick-off there was a signing in the Bristol store, which had endless queues from around 4:30pm. While the fans queued, there was something about overhearing girls and boys, of all ages, talk about music that was really refreshing to hear. There were people making new friends, young teenagers stood on their own while being unified by their pure love of music. Dr Martens are/have hosted five gigs around the UK, all of which hold well known bands such as Spector, Sonic Boom Six and Lower Than Atlantis, and many more. However, this Bristol show was one of the first to sell out, and while listening into the excitable conversations that were going on outside, I felt like a kid again. Going to shows, talking to complete strangers and meeting a handful of people who all hold the same interest or agenda as you. In a world full of the medias influence and digital games, events such as this keep the faith that not everyone will become the couch potato that worried everyone back in the late 90s.Â
The show itself began with support from Bristol based, Nirvana inspired, Armchair Committee. Their alternative sound fused with the grit that holds itself captive in Tom Hackwellâs vocals created an angst to the band who have surprisingly only been going since 2011. Following this boom of an opener, Canterbury were next up. Bands who confidently describe their genre as âsweet rockâ sometimes have a lot to prove, but judging from the crowdâs reaction, they certainly ticked the box. The quartetâs harmonies were as flawless as that of the acclaimed Alexisonfire, while their riff-ridden songs got pretty much everyone moving. The band are currently doing a UK tour and Iâd recommend attending a show if you have the time to appreciate their confident live performance. Both support bands built up the anticipation for many screaming, head-banging girls and boys. Young Guns, get radio airplay, play sell-out shows across Europe and have a following that is probably the size of my hometown. For a band of such caliber to play such an intimate show at the cosy Louisiana, a venue that is home to an extensive back catalogue of bands who have played there only a few years before their well-known recognition, many are forever kicking themselves in the foot for not attending shows, and arguably many will feel the same for missing the chance on not getting a ticket for the âStand For Somethingâ tour. While Young Guns played, the room was unmovable, loyal fans were refusing to budge if you were that annoying person who moved a couple of rows forward to get a better view. From start the finish, everyone in that venue was 100% into it.
When asked what they stand for, Gus Wood (lead vocals) replied, âPeople can do whatever they want if theyâre willing to put their head down and work for it. For me, at least, thatâs very much what the band is about: itâs shown me the meaning of working hard and being passionate about something that you love. Thatâs really importantâ. For me, this specific Dr Martens campaign not only urges individuals to think but also to take action on their own accord, and when heard from influential artists and bands, these role models must fulfill a void or inspire in some way. This show reaffirmed that every person in the world âstands for somethingâ, but that day with the queues outside the Bristol store, or that night at The Louisiana, I can tell you that everyone stood for music.Â
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