Another night, another gig at the ever popular Annandale Hotel. With Trial Kennedy being touted as the next big thing in Aussie rock, it was clear that the punters were out in full force and ready to see the guys strut their stuff.
Starting off the night was Repeat Offender, who used their catchy melodic rock tracks to keep the early birds happy. Pint-sized lead Ryan Wilson is nothing if not full of energy. The contrast between his sweet vocals and the grittier backing vocals of guitarist Steve Childs kept the audience interested and appeared to win over a few new fans. While they are not reinventing the wheel, they do the standard pop rock routine with such enthusiasm and fun that it’s hard not to sing along.
Light Noise were next to grace the stage. Their vocals had guts and the power that radiated from the drums seemed to shake the entire room to its core. However, while the guys are obviously talented musicians, there seemed to be something missing. Unfortunately they just didn’t have that inexplicable something extra that makes a band more than just a group of musicians.
Following Light Noise was Paper Champion, who presented a noticeably heavier, more ambient rock sound than their predecessors. There was solid guitar work and a driving drum beat that gave strength to each track, although the one thing that let the guys down was the vocals from the almost anxious looking frontman. They lacked the power and intensity needed to rise above the heavy guitar sound and at times became swamped by the competing instruments.
Finally after three supports and an increasingly palpable air of anticipation, Tim, Shaun, Aaron and Stacey – also known as Trial Kennedy – appeared on stage, launching straight into the opening track, Sunday Warning, from their new album New Manic Art. Backlit by flashing fairy lights, frontman Tim Morrison commanded the audience’s attention with his intense, confident gaze and powerful vocals. He also showered the crowd in water sprayed directly from his mouth, just in case they got distracted. At one point during the set, guitarist Stacey Gray was serenaded with Happy Birthday by the excited crowd and decided to celebrate with a bottle of red wine, which he ran along the fretboard of his guitar.
The guys played tracks from their previous EPs along with new tracks including Neighbours and Colour Day Tours, with the heavy-hitting War King seemingly garnering the most audience excitement. The crowd lapped it up and used the intensity of the band to fire up and let rip with many a flailing limb.
After the obligatory game of “will they or won’t they do an encore?”, the guys ended the night by using Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven and Tim’s amazing vocal control as an intro to one of their own tracks.
With obvious passion, originality and enthusiasm, it is clear that Trial Kennedy is in it for the long haul. And we wouldn’t have it any other way.
