Apprehensive was probably the best summary of the feelings evoked when Karnivool announced that their first gig in Melbourne (not including the Big Day Out) since mid-June last year, would be held at the Queensbridge Hotel.

QBH conjures up some not-too-fond memories of a misspent youth, where it was the place to be seen for purely different reasons – so the countdown to the Aeons tour was tinged slightly with fear of disappointment. But alas, it was not to be so. Even the elements seemed to go out of their way to make the night special, encompassing the venue and its surrounds in a layer of fog.

Inside, to say the least, the venue was packed. As main support act That 1 Guy prepared to launch into his assault on the capacity crowd, a study of the venue barely recalled any dreaded memories. One will even go as far to say that it probably is developing into an ideal venue for gigs of this calibre.

A werewolf’s howl pierced the air as the lights were dimmed. That 1 Guy is really Mike Silverman, armed with his magic pipe, electrified cowboy boots and a drum machine. The magic pipe itself is a wonder. Seven feet long, comprising of galvanised pipes, duct tape and sensors down the whole length that trigger bass-and-drum samples when stimulated.

That 1 Guy is a live show of ironic proportions – a simple set-up that somehow defies belief in the multi-layered soundscape that one finds oneself encompassed in. Breaks between songs were punctuated by werewolf howls, which, as the set rolled on, were enthusiastically echoed by the appreciative audience.

There is nothing universal in the way an audience approaches the sounds of That 1 Guy. Some dance, others stand still. A crutch is visible near the front from my vantage point on the mid-level platform. One thing that is universal, it seems, is the appreciation expressed as Silverman went all out on his set closer, his hands blurring as they raced the lengths of the pole, madly jumping as he covered himself in green smoke.

Not long after, above the stage, a single eye blinked. It watched. It judged. It welcomed. It signified that there was not long to go. It studied us for a full five minutes, before the lights went down, and it continued to watch us still. It watched as the members of Karnivool took to stage amidst mad applause and adulation. It waited patiently for frontman Ian Kenny to take to stage armed with bottles of water. It blinked once as they opened their set with a new song, rather than something from the much loved Themata album.

Karnivool delivered a set list that was a perfect blend of new and old tracks. Featuring their interpretation of Gotye’s The Only Way, the mega-sublime C.O.T.E, which near incited a riot in the pit below. Shutterspeed, Fear of the Sky, L1feL1ke and Mauseum invited a sing-a-long in the crowd before shifting into some newer tracks, giving the fans a moment to catch their breath (and this reviewer a moment to find her almost-lost-voice).

Watching Karnivool live is sometimes similar to a religious experience. The Eye that periodically reappeared above the stage affirmed that notion, as we were taken on a familiar yet unknown journey, guided by the ethereal vocals of Kenny and punctuated by the epic riffs-and-drum movement from the band.

Occasionally, projected imagery would appear above stage as Kenny lost himself in the music, dancing in his slightly neurotic but extremely appealing way, often pulling faces at the crowd in delivering the intricate vocals that have long been a feature of the band.

Cue the eye again as Karnivool launched into the extended version of Themata, which is practically the anthem track for the fans, who practically drowned out the vocals from Kenny. It was a sight to behold – uniformity in the pit in both moshing and singing. Fade from the Persona EP and Roquefort closed out the evening, once again inciting a near-riot from fans – who were dead set on keeping every moment alive, not wanting the band to leave.

One more blink from the over-soul eye, and both it and the band were gone, as we wondered when the next Melbourne show would be. Tonight’s performance signified a return to the Karnivool that we have all known and loved, and more then made up for a slightly mediocre performance earlier this year at the Big Day Out. It has also placed the Queensbridge Hotel as a serious contender for one of the better live venues in Melbourne.

Thanks to Damage for the shots of the night.