BIGSOUND // Night Two: We All Sink Down Here

BIGSOUND Festival, Night Two
6th September, 2017
Fortitude Valley Entertainment Precinct, Brisbane

Choking down a vicious hangover (cheers Mountain Goat), we brace ourselves for the second night of BIGSOUND’s ‘networking’ debauchery, cruising through an alleyway and into 256 Wickham to see Brisbane prog-rockers Osaka Punch get weird.

While the quartet are essentially veterans of the jazz-funk-metal fusion scene there’s a refreshing air of originality to progressive cuts from 2016’s hilariously titled Death Monster Super Squad. People up front are dancing along to funky, slap bass and crashing cymbals, while a few long-hairs up the back throw down some celebratory wind-mills for good measure. The band’s style is definitely different, but it fence-sits between pop and heavy in the best way possible. Enthusiastic front man Jack Muzak straddles his keyboard, telling the BIGSOUND crowd, “we fucking love ya!” before the group rips into a wild, instrumental freak out that quickly descends into jam-band-on-acid-with-serious-chops territory.

Osaka Punch // By Tracie Tee Live Events

Rounding the corner, we return to Crowbar once again to find the band room positively heaving with punters. Sydney triple j darlings Dear Seattle cram in to the stage to almost deafening applause, jumping straight into jangly post-grunge of The Things You Do from their stupendous self-titled EP. Vocalist/rhythm guitarist Brae Fisher lends an affectionate Aussie twang to his crooned lyrics, while lead guitarist Lachlan Simpson carries the band through the track’s epic outro. After some quick-fire banter, the band rip into breakthrough hit single The Meadows, which benefits from what’s easily one of the best hooks penned in 2017 (Fuck being sad, indeed). The crowd goes suitably ape-shit, and the band follow it up with slower cuts like Cut You Deep and Concrete, where Fisher implores the crowd to “Come up and have a boogie with a nice young lady,” before quickly caveating, “Only if she says yes.” It’s easy to see why these young blokes are blowing up right now: the tunes are simple, catchy and infectious; with the band sitting in a Venn diagram intersection between Soho’s slacker grunge, Brasi’s blue-collar punk rock, and sacrificing Centrelink payments on the altar of crushing tins. By the time Dear Seattle hurtle through Quiet and Afterthought, Crowbar is packed and full of shit-eating grins, so don’t be surprised when these dudes blow right the fuck up.

Dear Seattle // By Rebecca Reid

Introvert // By Tracie Tee Live Events

Next up are Newcastle outfit Introvert, who charge headfirst into tracks like Is It Too Late from their 2016 Old Taste EP. Vocalist/guitarist Audie Franks looks like a punk-rock Milhouse, with dorky glasses, dad cap and a vocal style that’s half Anthony Raneri, half Hetfield gruff (“Yeaaaarrrrhhhhh!”). With the band supporting AFI and Basement later this month, their mix of 90’s post-hardcore and current grunge-revival sound goes down a treat at Crowbar; think Texas Is The Reason on the gear, Balance & Composure on ketamine, Mineral on bath salts (you get the idea). It’s the type of brooding, melancholic heaviness that’s bolstered by sing-scream combos, and drummer Stephen Hopkins adding some great vocal harmonies at opportune moments.

By the time Dear Seattle hurtle through Quiet and Afterthought, Crowbar is packed and full of shit-eating grins, so don’t be surprised when these dudes blow right the fuck up.

There isn’t much you can really say about a Clowns show, except that’s it total fucking mayhem. From tireless local act to international touring juggernaut, the Melbourne gutter punks (and Brissy gal Hanny J slinging bass/vox) are a force to be reckoned with in the live arena, and they quickly turn Crowbar into a heaving mess of beer-stained tie-dye and flailing limbs. New cuts from their recent Lucid Again album are wild and carefree, while old bangers like the rollicking Euthanise Me from 2015’s Bad Blood LP are pretty much the definition of a good fucking time. Vocalist Stevie Williams is barely on stage throughout their set, however he does take the time to callout BIGSOUND and QMusic for making the bands at this year’s festival sell their merch only in dedicated zones, while also taking a truly heinous 25% cut. Understandably pissed, Williams explains how fucked he thinks that entire situation is, before informing the cheering crowd that they’ll be selling merch up the back anyway, in a show of proud defiance. So, we probably won’t be seeing Clowns at BIGSOUND again anytime soon, but… Up tha punx!

Clowns // By Tracie Tee Live Events

Heading back over to 256 Wickham to round out the evening, we’re just in time to double fist some more Mountain Goat tinnies before metalcore juggernaut Polaris break things down. Fresh from their recent signing to Aussie hardcore powerhouse Resist Records, the South Sydney five-piece are eager to showcase off their debut full-length The Mortal Coil, due for release later this year. Singles like The Remedy and Consume make use of the band’s vocal dexterity, switching effortlessly between monstrous screams from frontman Jamie Hails and bassist/vocalist Jake Steinhauser’s smooth, clean choruses. There’s a reason these guys are hyped to death right now and poised to be the next Northlane, especially with their potent mix of djent-fuelled mosh mayhem, delicate atmospherics and soaring melodies. When the groups swings into stomping breakdown sections and fierce guitar riffage, Hails demands that “Nobody stands still!” before the pit is fully activated, with hands outstretched and excited cheers from the crowd. Another BIGSOUND success story for 2017, and definitely a band to keep your eye on.

Polaris // BY Rebecca Reid

Read our wrap of Night One here!