This is Tour Diary, where artists give us a behind-the-scenes look at life on the road. Earlier this summer, Australian hardcore outfit SPEED played a bunch of shows in North America in support of their debut album, ONLY ONE MODE, which stretches the boundaries of their blistering sound while showing love for the community that raised them. In between leading furious mosh pits, they had time to cop Frankel’s bagels, lobster rolls, and breakfast in Long Island. Here, vocalist Jem Siow took us backstage at their recent gigs.
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This was up there with the top three sets of our little lives so far supporting Have Heart in Boston. / Jack Rudder
Us at Belle Isle Seafood eating the best lobster rolls of our lives. Shoutouts to Alex Dow of Fiddlehead and Olivia Kates for the munch-ons. / Jack Rudder
We don’t have much, but we do have the freshest bass player. / Jack Rudder
Our hero, Mike Dijan (Crown of Thornz, Outburst), laying down “SHUT IT DOWN” with us in Brooklyn. This bloke may as well have written the Old Testament for us. One of the most surreal moments of my life. / Jack Rudder
Copping a Frankel’s bagel before the Have Heart show in Brooklyn. Shout out Brian, who served us and coincidentally played in Alpha & Omega back in the day. / Jack Rudder
Soundchecking at the magnificent Belasco Theatre before the ONLY ONE MODE LP release show in LA. / Jack Rudder
LA is our second home. Sound and Fury are our day one’s out here. They started it all off for us in 2022, invited us back in 2023, and hosted our album release show in 2024. Thank you, family. / Jack Rudder
Breaking fast at All American in Long Island that Ricky Singh, CEO of Flatspot Records, took us to. It was special to see some of his home and walk amid the paths that bred Long Island NYHC legends, from Backtrack to Incendiary to Pain of Truth. We could see the studio the Backtrack demo was recorded at across the road. / Jack Rudder