Driving down Liverpool St on my way to the Metro, a sparkler fell from the heavens above and landed on the road in front of me. Obviously someone had thrown it from a raging party above, but I took it as a sign of a great night ahead. I was definitely not disappointed.
Perth outfit the Panda Band got us started and took to the stage in front of what can only be described as a mediocre crowd, but that didn’t stop them playing like there was no tomorrow. Slowly but surely the crowd noticed there was something happening onstage and really started digging it. Sleepy Little Deathtoll Town was fantastic and even the dog-masked drummer seemed to be enjoying himself. Though I don’t think the crowd gave them the full credit they deserve. That said, for a band that was first in a line up of four hot acts, the crowd did seem appreciative of what they were witnessing.
The boys of the Vasco Era were up next, and as usual really got the crowd pumped. With awesome riffs, vocals screamed with mind blowing intensity, and out of control baselines, it’s hard not to sit up and take notice. Their energy is consistently rife and for the most part, their onstage presence exudes rock-god sex appeal. Playing crowd favourites such as Kingswood and Don’t Go To Sleep, it seemed like they had just started when they finished! Joining them onstage at the end, the Panda Band lads had a bit of a crazy dance as well.
Theredsunband drew mixed reactions. Listening to that angelic voice saw me drifting in and out of concentration, myself and others around me were just totally and completely mesmerised. A red glow hovering over them created a dark and eerie mood that was almost reminiscent of Mazzy Star. Other people quite obviously weren’t into it, and proceeded to try and have their own conversations over the top. The anxious crowd sensed the end was near and the sold out event started to show its strength.
The room suddenly went from half full to pretty much full capacity in a matter of minutes, everyone eager to find a prime viewing spot for the main show. With anticipation the crowd now waited for Evermore to take the stage and once they did, opening with For One Day, it was incredible. From start to finish, they controlled the stage and the entire room with their, by now, well known tunes. Not short of success recently, the kiwi lads showed us exactly why everyone now knows who Evermore are, and if you don’t know them I have to ask, have you been living under a rock?
Adding to the hype was the very noticeable presence of the Channel [V] crew. The set was being filmed and the camera floating above really worked the crowd, almost to the point where some were so focused on making it onto film, they momentarily forgot the happenings in front of them! From my little spot on the side, watching the reactions to both the cameras and Evermore themselves, was just such a fascinating moment of anthropology. Everyone was drawn to them like a magnet and they were not going to be pulled away in a hurry. The visual backdrop consisted of simple yet captivating images, mostly in black and white, which aided as a powerful force to the already fiercely overwhelming music.
Its Too Late was definitely a highlight. With so much emotion and blatant passion, the lyrics alone were enough to give you chills. Any of the four bands that played would be well worth seeing again and I’d be surprised to hear anything too negative about them. The Night is Young tour continues until the end of July throughout the nation.
