Karnivool, Sleepmakeswaves, Redcoats @ The Hi-Fi, Sydney (12/07/2012)
A sold out Karnivool show at fledging venue The Hi-Fi Sydney promised a prog rock feast for the senses and started later than it should have, evident by the line wrapped around the side of the building at well after doors were meant to open. As we waited we could hear a sound check still in progress, which would account for the hold up.
It was closer to nine by the time progressive rock instrumentalists Sleepmakeswaves made it onto the stage. For their first home town gig on tour, the four piece did not receive the warmest reception, with a couple of jeers and smart remarks from the crowd as they launched into ‘To you they are birds, to me they are voices in the forest’, but by the time they were into their third song, the crowd had settled into a tranced state.
With a chilled blend of atmospheric delay effects, emotive piano lines, edgy riffs and resonating beats, it was hard not to get caught up in the music, because that’s all there was, to interpret anyway you wish. The only hint of a vocal being the whispered intro to ‘A gaze as blank and pitiless as the sun’. ‘(Hello) Cloud Mountain’ was a standout and the range of samples in their repertoire and seamless layering of sound was impressive. Audience attention was rewarded at the end, by appreciative smiles from the band and a picture taken for prosperity.
The band themselves seemed fully absorbed with what they were doing and whether the audience were as engaged is questionable, as a lot of folk regrettably tend to shy away from instrumental music. I for one enjoyed the experience and would definitely see them again.
Next up was psychedelic rock outfit Redcoats, a seventies vision in tight clothing and shaggy hair, which was constantly being swept from their faces. From the get go the band were an explosive force, as lead singer Emilio Mercuri’s shrill and powerful voice bounced against walls and blew heads off. Seductively killer bass lines, heavy distorted riffs and crashing beats courtesy of drummer Andrew Braidner brought tracks including ‘Giants’ and ‘Kaytrucker’ home.
It was a pleasure to watch such skilled musicians deftly pluck, pound and scream their way through the set, each member fitting in perfectly with the band dynamic. Bassist Rhys Kelly was a blur of raging gold mane, whilst Emilio lived up to front man expectations, pulling off writhing belly moves and strutting to the stage punctuating the air with jabs from his microphone stand. First single off their new album ‘Raven’ made an appearance and the set ended with great fanfare to ‘Dream Shaker’ as guitarist Neil Wilkinson pulled off some excellent solo work. The only downside to the set being some sound issues causing Emilio’s higher register to cut in and out, but it did little to dampen a well played and highly energetic performance.
By now we were well into the night and the sense of restlessness emanating from the crowd is palpable, time passed drooling over quality gear being brought onto the stage including a massive shiny gold drum kit and some funky vertical bar lights.
The lights darken, greeted by a mixture of high pitched screams and cheers from self professed ‘vooligans’ as finally Karnivool make their prescence known. A calm blue wash calls in ‘Change,’ as gently plucked guitar notes lead into singer Ian Kenny’s melodic and perfectly pitched voice, while the band melds its way in with Drew, Mark and Jon rocking out in the midst of wailing guitar, hard riffs and pounding frenetic beats, whilst Ian appears calm and collected amongst the flash of vivid red bar lights.
The audience reaction is immense and passionate, throughout the set looking around and observing people with intense expressions on their faces singing along word for word, it’s obvious what an impact the music has on fans and how strongly they are connected to it. As the band move into new track ‘The Refusal’ Ian produces some awkward looking dance moves, flailing limbs and bowing constantly. Some screamed song requests change into a mass sing a long as ‘Goliath’ is played, inciting a half hearted psycho circle.
‘Cote’ gives the crowd a chance to mosha along with its jagged chords whilst ‘Umbra’ releases some floor shaking bass amongst it’s complexity and alternating breaks. The set included a couple of new songs that were quite heavy and had more of a nu metal influence. Ian’s voice soared above the sound with the words ‘this is the worst day I’ve ever had to stand and witness / we’re almost out of time, this hopeless cold divide’. A quick breather had Ian break out into the chorus of The Beatle’s ‘All you need is love’ which failed to impress, before fans were energised once more with the most requested song of the night ‘Set Fire to the Hive’.
Thanks for all support over the last two albums went out followed by a smile and thumbs up from Ian before all control was abandoned in the thrashing glory of ‘Roquefort’. The band leave the stage and call for encore goes out, as they come back on Ian asks ‘did you miss me?’ before closing the set with ‘Aeons’, ‘Themata’ and of course ‘New Day’. By now drummer Steve Judd has finished off the set shirtless and guitarist Mark Hosking takes an opportunity to hand out picks to an ecstatic couple on the barrier. Guitarist and back up vocalist Drew Goddard pulls out an SLR to the right of stage and the crowd surges that way eagerly waving their arms and posing for the camera.
The show was a really positive eye opener, especially for those who may not be as familiar progressive rock. Karnivool themselves were faultless in their execution of their set with their experience speaking for itself; it’s no surprise that Ian’s side project Birds of Tokyo has followed the same suit. A gig is not only measured by its performances but also by the atmosphere the crowd adds to it and gauging from the passion and ecstasy reflected all around me, it was a rip roaring success.
Nazia Hafiz
It was closer to nine by the time progressive rock instrumentalists Sleepmakeswaves made it onto the stage. For their first home town gig on tour, the four piece did not receive the warmest reception, with a couple of jeers and smart remarks from the crowd as they launched into ‘To you they are birds, to me they are voices in the forest’, but by the time they were into their third song, the crowd had settled into a tranced state.
With a chilled blend of atmospheric delay effects, emotive piano lines, edgy riffs and resonating beats, it was hard not to get caught up in the music, because that’s all there was, to interpret anyway you wish. The only hint of a vocal being the whispered intro to ‘A gaze as blank and pitiless as the sun’. ‘(Hello) Cloud Mountain’ was a standout and the range of samples in their repertoire and seamless layering of sound was impressive. Audience attention was rewarded at the end, by appreciative smiles from the band and a picture taken for prosperity.
The band themselves seemed fully absorbed with what they were doing and whether the audience were as engaged is questionable, as a lot of folk regrettably tend to shy away from instrumental music. I for one enjoyed the experience and would definitely see them again.
Next up was psychedelic rock outfit Redcoats, a seventies vision in tight clothing and shaggy hair, which was constantly being swept from their faces. From the get go the band were an explosive force, as lead singer Emilio Mercuri’s shrill and powerful voice bounced against walls and blew heads off. Seductively killer bass lines, heavy distorted riffs and crashing beats courtesy of drummer Andrew Braidner brought tracks including ‘Giants’ and ‘Kaytrucker’ home.
It was a pleasure to watch such skilled musicians deftly pluck, pound and scream their way through the set, each member fitting in perfectly with the band dynamic. Bassist Rhys Kelly was a blur of raging gold mane, whilst Emilio lived up to front man expectations, pulling off writhing belly moves and strutting to the stage punctuating the air with jabs from his microphone stand. First single off their new album ‘Raven’ made an appearance and the set ended with great fanfare to ‘Dream Shaker’ as guitarist Neil Wilkinson pulled off some excellent solo work. The only downside to the set being some sound issues causing Emilio’s higher register to cut in and out, but it did little to dampen a well played and highly energetic performance.
By now we were well into the night and the sense of restlessness emanating from the crowd is palpable, time passed drooling over quality gear being brought onto the stage including a massive shiny gold drum kit and some funky vertical bar lights.
The lights darken, greeted by a mixture of high pitched screams and cheers from self professed ‘vooligans’ as finally Karnivool make their prescence known. A calm blue wash calls in ‘Change,’ as gently plucked guitar notes lead into singer Ian Kenny’s melodic and perfectly pitched voice, while the band melds its way in with Drew, Mark and Jon rocking out in the midst of wailing guitar, hard riffs and pounding frenetic beats, whilst Ian appears calm and collected amongst the flash of vivid red bar lights.
The audience reaction is immense and passionate, throughout the set looking around and observing people with intense expressions on their faces singing along word for word, it’s obvious what an impact the music has on fans and how strongly they are connected to it. As the band move into new track ‘The Refusal’ Ian produces some awkward looking dance moves, flailing limbs and bowing constantly. Some screamed song requests change into a mass sing a long as ‘Goliath’ is played, inciting a half hearted psycho circle.
‘Cote’ gives the crowd a chance to mosha along with its jagged chords whilst ‘Umbra’ releases some floor shaking bass amongst it’s complexity and alternating breaks. The set included a couple of new songs that were quite heavy and had more of a nu metal influence. Ian’s voice soared above the sound with the words ‘this is the worst day I’ve ever had to stand and witness / we’re almost out of time, this hopeless cold divide’. A quick breather had Ian break out into the chorus of The Beatle’s ‘All you need is love’ which failed to impress, before fans were energised once more with the most requested song of the night ‘Set Fire to the Hive’.
Thanks for all support over the last two albums went out followed by a smile and thumbs up from Ian before all control was abandoned in the thrashing glory of ‘Roquefort’. The band leave the stage and call for encore goes out, as they come back on Ian asks ‘did you miss me?’ before closing the set with ‘Aeons’, ‘Themata’ and of course ‘New Day’. By now drummer Steve Judd has finished off the set shirtless and guitarist Mark Hosking takes an opportunity to hand out picks to an ecstatic couple on the barrier. Guitarist and back up vocalist Drew Goddard pulls out an SLR to the right of stage and the crowd surges that way eagerly waving their arms and posing for the camera.
The show was a really positive eye opener, especially for those who may not be as familiar progressive rock. Karnivool themselves were faultless in their execution of their set with their experience speaking for itself; it’s no surprise that Ian’s side project Birds of Tokyo has followed the same suit. A gig is not only measured by its performances but also by the atmosphere the crowd adds to it and gauging from the passion and ecstasy reflected all around me, it was a rip roaring success.
Nazia Hafiz