Dead Letter Circus - Adelaide, 29th August 2013
Words: Jo Taylor
Heading to HQ on a cold and rainy Thursday night, it was good to find a crowd lining up when arriving at the venue. Often support bands don’t get the turn out they deserve, especially in Adelaide on a school night in winter!
Kicking off proceedings for the evening were Melbourne outfit Sleep Parade. After dropping their third release Inside/Out in February this year, they warmed the night up well with their harmony-heavy rock music and were a very fitting support. Followed soon after were another Melbourne band, the charismatic Closure in Moscow. With the lead singer donning an intriguing pink prisoner-style onesie, they got a good crowd reaction with their energetic style of prog-rock and offered a glimpse into their forthcoming album Pink Lemonade, which is due to be released sometime before the end of the year.
But finally, Brisbane’s Dead Letter Circus hit the stage. From the moment the 5-piece appeared, they dominated the room and had the crowd in their hands! Launching into the buzzing guitars of The Cure, the opening track from their latest album The Catalyst Fire, the band sparked a huge reaction in the crowd and most of the room already knew the words to the song despite being released only three weeks earlier. Lead singer Kim Benzie welcomed everyone “Thanks for coming out on a work night, let’s get this party started!” before hurtling into another new song, Alone Awake, which honestly kicked some arse.
It’s great to see them release an album that so strongly displays their dynamic live performance. Watching it come to life at their show was yet another demonstration of why they’re gathering a stronger fan base with each tour. Drummer Luke Williams’ precise and powerful style combined with bassist and founding member Stuart HIll are a killer backbone for guitarist Clint Vincent and guitarist/keyboardist/percussionist Tom Skerlj. Though the sound levels on the night were slightly overwhelming, theeir playing was tight and Benzie’s vocal range astounds every time. And to be honest, so do his tattoo covered abs!
Kicking off proceedings for the evening were Melbourne outfit Sleep Parade. After dropping their third release Inside/Out in February this year, they warmed the night up well with their harmony-heavy rock music and were a very fitting support. Followed soon after were another Melbourne band, the charismatic Closure in Moscow. With the lead singer donning an intriguing pink prisoner-style onesie, they got a good crowd reaction with their energetic style of prog-rock and offered a glimpse into their forthcoming album Pink Lemonade, which is due to be released sometime before the end of the year.
But finally, Brisbane’s Dead Letter Circus hit the stage. From the moment the 5-piece appeared, they dominated the room and had the crowd in their hands! Launching into the buzzing guitars of The Cure, the opening track from their latest album The Catalyst Fire, the band sparked a huge reaction in the crowd and most of the room already knew the words to the song despite being released only three weeks earlier. Lead singer Kim Benzie welcomed everyone “Thanks for coming out on a work night, let’s get this party started!” before hurtling into another new song, Alone Awake, which honestly kicked some arse.
It’s great to see them release an album that so strongly displays their dynamic live performance. Watching it come to life at their show was yet another demonstration of why they’re gathering a stronger fan base with each tour. Drummer Luke Williams’ precise and powerful style combined with bassist and founding member Stuart HIll are a killer backbone for guitarist Clint Vincent and guitarist/keyboardist/percussionist Tom Skerlj. Though the sound levels on the night were slightly overwhelming, theeir playing was tight and Benzie’s vocal range astounds every time. And to be honest, so do his tattoo covered abs!
Older tracks The Mile and 2008 single Reaction then got a look in, which had the crowd in a frenzy and singing every damn word!
The slightly more melodic Insider and Say Your Prayers were the next new tracks to be showcased, before the 2010 album This Is A Warning releases The Space On The Wall, Cage and the mind blowing performance of One Step blew the roof off the venue. The sharp-eyed Benzie even managed to catch a shoe, which was flung directly at him mid-song.
Their latest single Lodestar saw the crowd erupt into energetic chaos before closing the set with one of many highlights of the night The Veil with it’s driving guitar and drums carried by Benzie’s flawless vocal performance delivering a serious punch.
Needless to say, when they exited the stage there were immediately demands for more. Once they (inevitably) returned, they took the opportunity to take a few snap shots of the crowd, before ending the night with the crunching Here We Divide and finally the energetic Next In Line.
Walking away from the venue with ears buzzing, heart pumping and mind still melting a little bit, made the lack of sleep at work the next day completely worthwhile!
The slightly more melodic Insider and Say Your Prayers were the next new tracks to be showcased, before the 2010 album This Is A Warning releases The Space On The Wall, Cage and the mind blowing performance of One Step blew the roof off the venue. The sharp-eyed Benzie even managed to catch a shoe, which was flung directly at him mid-song.
Their latest single Lodestar saw the crowd erupt into energetic chaos before closing the set with one of many highlights of the night The Veil with it’s driving guitar and drums carried by Benzie’s flawless vocal performance delivering a serious punch.
Needless to say, when they exited the stage there were immediately demands for more. Once they (inevitably) returned, they took the opportunity to take a few snap shots of the crowd, before ending the night with the crunching Here We Divide and finally the energetic Next In Line.
Walking away from the venue with ears buzzing, heart pumping and mind still melting a little bit, made the lack of sleep at work the next day completely worthwhile!