If garage band performances existed in Singapore, Touché Amoré’s first gig here would have been the perfect example of a humble, cozy show.

Undaunted by the heavy downpour, fans braved the evening storm to experience the 5-piece hardcore band from Los Angeles performing in Singapore for the first time. They held stage at the Old Married Soldiers Quarters at Fort Canning Park on the night of Nov 16.

The cramped L-shaped venue was packed to the brim with a 200-strong crowd, rendering the band nearly invisible for many of those standing nearer the exit, but the excited audience jostled about to catch a glimpse of the musicians even before their set began.

Fresh off the plane from New Zealand, the band had just started day 65 of their tour, with Singapore as their first South East Asian stop. The 5-year-old band, best known for their honest and confessional lyrics, comprises of 5 members in their mid-20s.

“I’m just taking it all in,” frontman Jeremy Bolm tells UrbanWire, looking around Fort Canning Park in awe as a group of avid fans ambushed him on his walk around the area, interrupting his alone time. But he didn’t seem to mind at all.

“Every time we posted something on Facebook, there would be at least one person who would comment, ‘Please come to South East Asia!’” he gushed. “And I can’t believe that we’re finally here; it’s truly amazing.”

Anticipation was lingering in the air as the band stepped up to the tiny space created in the tiled room that served as a makeshift stage. Guitarist Clayton Stevens even playfully jammed along to the piped-in music while waiting for the rest of his band mates to set up their musical equipment.

As drummer Elliot Babin exited the back door for a brief moment and returned dressed in a pair of shorts for more comfort, he drew a collective whoop from several of the female fans, who giggled shyly afterwards.

Their 90-minute set started with “And Now It’s Happening In Mine”, the first track off their debut studio album … To the Beat of a Dead Horse, released in 2009. Eager fans went wild and began clapping along to the beat, running up to Jeremy with outstretched arms and embracing him as he forcefully screamed emotive lyrics into the microphone. The total absence of barricades and security guards, who would have ordinarily prevented this kind of close contact, was refreshing.

“Tilde” had the room yelling the poetic last 2 stanzas: “If actions speak louder than words, I’m the most deafening noise you heard. I’ll be the ringing in your ears that will stick around for years,” in unison.

The room resembled a warzone: limbs were swung almost off their sockets, heads were bobbing to the beat and fists were pummeling the air in one accord. Adolescent fans stayed energetic throughout the night, with several crowd-surfers boldly showing their support by risking their lives despite the low ceiling and overhead ceiling fans.

As the band continued to play songs from their second studio album, Parting the Sea Between Brightness and Me, a 2011 album released via record label Deathwish Inc., the enthusiastic crowd recited the lyrics of each song in sync with Jeremy, all of them more than familiar with the lyrics to the entire album.

Panting and dripping with perspiration, Jeremy paused in between songs to catch his breath and jokingly complain about the humid tropical climate that appalled the entire band the moment they exited Changi Airport.

They proceeded to play a brand new song entitled “Gravity Metaphorically” to the privileged audience, due for release in their next album.

“Being here with such an amazing crowd and meeting so many polite, hospitable people makes us feel not so far away from home,” Jeremy earnestly shared. “Even though it’s day 65, you guys make it feel like day 1.”

The audience partook in friendly shoving, and even helpfully lifted fellow spectators who strained their necks for a clearer view of the band.

As the set ended with “Amends”, the audience milked every ounce of enjoyment from whatever was left of the experience by chanting the lyrics in unison with great conviction, before issuing fervent cries of “Encore!”, “Another set” and “One more song!”.

Touché Amoré cheerfully obliged, despite being evidently exhausted from the exhilarating performance. They proceeded to play “I’ll Deserve Just That” and “I’ll Get My Just Deserve”, the first 2 tracks from the split EP entitled Searching for a Pulse/The Worth of the World, recorded with hardcore band La Dispute and released in mid 2010.

“I’ve been waiting for Touché Amoré to come to Singapore since I discovered them in 2009,” said Sylvia Tan, who jokingly proclaimed herself their number one fan. “I’m so glad that my favourite band is finally here. It’s like a dream come true.”

The crowd, given the rare opportunity of a true blue Touché Amoré performance, was left unduly satiated with an amazing memory etched into their lives as the West Coast band trooped on to Malaysia to embark on day 66 of their tour.

Photo credits to Darren Tan & Syafiq.