Trial Kennedy, Numbers Radio,The Bloodpoets @ The Zoo,Brisbane (27/05/2011)

Mon 30th May, 2011 in Gig Reviews

A show at the Zoo always seems to mean a good time, and the Trial Kennedy show was no different. After the withdrawal of DrawCard from the bill, The Bloodpoets stepped up to the plate. As the crowd steadily grew by twos and threes the band played some catchy tunes and got some toes tapping. They integrated their male and female vocals nicely and had a unique sound happening. Unfortunately the keys got a little lost in the overall sound and it was hard to hear what they brought to the band. As a band though, they were the perfect opener for the show, giving a taste of what to expect from bands to come.

By the time local trio Numbers Radio were due to play, the Zoo was on its way to hitting capacity. It was obvious they knew how to lay on the suspense, and when they moved from the first eerie chords into their opening song interest was high. It was clear that a lot of people knew their songs, and there was a small but dedicated core of fans that went crazy for their early singles such as Automatic. For a group that looked so casual at first glance, these boys certainly knew their stuff, and once again showed Brisbane what they had to offer – tight songs, catchy riffs and an almost unconscious stage presence that let them shine in even the most mundane of moments. It seemed like they discovered long ago what makes a great song, but didn’t stop there. Everything was always one more step, one more element and any risks they took paid off with the result being consistently fresh and sounding different while still being distinctly Numbers Radio. Throughout their set they threw in a few slower numbers to mix things up, and topped it all off with a drum solo.

Trial Kennedy were the headliners, and headline they did. They took their new album Living Undesigned to heart, and every song proved their commitment and passion. Sally, the opener of Living Undesigned, took the same position on tour, and was the perfect choice to get things rolling. Old fans and new were catered for with a healthy mix of the old faves like Sunday Warning as well as a heap of stuff off the new album. Trial Kennedy were showing their years, but only insofar as their stage presence and performance skill went. Tensions were running high at ground level and a few punks who couldn’t handle their alcohol had a go at each other, souring the experience for those around who suffered peripheral damage. Everyone pressed on though and the die-hards were rewarded with mic-grabs for their favourite songs. Relatively new bassist Richie Buxton seemed a perfect fit for the band, and his brother Haydn (who helped mix the new album) was in the background adding extra layers to the performance. Trial Kennedy possess the combination of experience and enthusiasm that can be so hard to find, once again highlighting just how good the talent in Oz really is.