Award-winning olive oil popcorn in hand, there was an anticipation buzzing among the black-clad, dimly lit theatre when the sweet sounds of guitar began to play.
The Amity Affliction’s first full-length documentary ‘Seems Like Forever’ explores behind the tattoos and hardcore at the lives and careers of the “couple of drunk Australians” behind the band. Masterfully pieced together, the film comprises of interviews with band members (past and present), producers, as well as several friends and artists the Queensland boys have worked with.
With behind-the-scenes footage from Amity shows, studio time and parties, spliced between interviews with an overlay of everybody’s favourite music there's never a dull moment. ‘Seems Like Forever’ exposes not only the highest highs of the band, but the lowest of the lows and everything in between. Heart-wrenching, first-person accounts of songwriter and vocalist Joel Birch’s near-death experience in 2013 had the audience holding in tears. “I thought he was going to die,” each of the boys admitted, “I thought I was watching my friend die.”But through all the heartbreak and drama, ‘Seems Like Forever’ shows off a group of guys that are more than just rock stars or performers. Ahren, Joel, Ryan and Dan, as well as Amity’s previous band members, are the kind of down-to-earth, hilarious folk you want to be friends with. From wearing watermelon helmets, to popping out of dumpsters, to setting off fireworks in places they probably shouldn’t – these guys know how to have a good time, and still stay humble.
“I get a lot of people telling me ‘you helped me’,” Joel says addressing his fans. “But I wasn’t fucking around when I said it was a two-way street. . . It’s a huge two-way street for me, and that’s what gets me through.”
Short and sweet, this documentary definitely doesn’t seem like forever. Though listening to the boys’ crazy stories all night certainly would have been enjoyable. Highly recommend to Amity and general music fans.
– written by Darcy Stephens
