Tape/Off, Sleepwalks, EstebanVihiao, M.O'Neill @ The Zoo,Brisbane (03/09/11)

Thu 15th Sep, 2011 in Gig Reviews

Tonight Brisbane was lit up by the colour in the sky and on the ground due to Queensland’s infamous Riverfire. Trains are packed to the brim with most people having to put in a bit of extra effort to get anywhere near the city. There was a great line-up of local talent performing at The Zoo tonight, as four piece Tape/Off launched their second EP with an interesting array of friends in their support.

Kicking off the night was the rather odd billing of hip hop artist M. O’Neill. Described as alternative hip hop, he tried his best to rhyme and win over the small crowd but the lack of attendance and interest led to patrons playing pool and keeping to themselves. The forty minute set seemed a little too long and his billing with a bunch of rock bands just did not work.

Taking their name from the Kill Bill pimp, Esteban Vihiao took to the stage to a crowd that had barely picked up in size from when doors opened. The four piece were very rock with elements of Queens of the Stone Age and Motorhead coming out in their work. They solo like rock stars through fuzzed out palm muted power chords and even though their audience was slim at best, it seems they enjoyed their time on stage. Finishing a few minutes early, the crowd vocalise they want more. But being a new band their reply was, “We don’t have any more.”

Guitarist/vocalist Kevin Fincham’s Jesus Lizard t-shirt was an accurate way of describing Sleepwalks sound as they sent fuzzed out sludge through The Zoo’s PA. There were more amps than people on stage as the three piece utilised them to their full extent. The crowd picked up in size for them and Nirvana t-shirts bounced up and down in the air in front of the stage. Having dropped their impressive debut album, The Milk Has Gone Sour earlier this year, most of tonight’s material was from said album with the Dinosaur Jr like Clicks a notable highlight. With strained throats, overworked guitar amps and broken drum sticks the band left the stage as titans worth the admission price alone.

A legion of Tape/Off supporters swarmed up the Zoo’s stairs and to the front of the stage in anticipation for the local rock band. Unveiling the mysterious thing behind the curtain all night a metal, fairy light infused Tape/Off sign. The band wasted no time in getting all of the crowd’s attention as they launched into Sweater Curse off debut EP Unreel Unravel. Following on, new track History saw producer Edward Guglielmino taking to guest vocals in the beginning of what can be described as a cavalcade of local stars taking to the stage tonight.

Despite early in the set being known as ‘Off’ due to a malfunction of the metal light up sign, drummer Branko Cosic seemed to be a heartthrob amongst the ladies and men alike tonight, as constant cries and appreciation was sent toward the stage for his hard hitting drum work. The lure of free t-shirts saw the fans go into a frenzy, similar to a water damaged stock sale commercial for a Persian rug store.

Backseat sees Shane Rudken from local electronic experimentalists, Re:Enactment take to the stage for synth duties. While down the line, fellow Re:Enactment band mate Jacob Hicks also took to the stage for new track Something That We Know, which closed the set and saw a wide variety of punters take to the stage with one even picking up a guitar following the band’s departure from the stage for an enthused, yet amateur take on lead guitar.

Re-emerging, the band have one final guest in the form of Kellie Lloyd from nineties Brisbane rock icons, Screamfeeder. Playing upbeat collaborative single Happen Now, a portion of the crowd seemed to be unaware of the severity of Lloyd’s contributions to the Brisbane music scene as the band launch into Screamfeeder cover, Dart, memories come flooding back in for the older kids as the tag team vocals stay true to the original. Finishing with the bass heavy, power chord punk of Expert the band left the stage, winning over a number of new fans.

Despite some reluctance earlier in the evening, the show was a success due in part to all who were involved and impressive set early on by Sleepwalks. Tape/Off show a lot of influences in their music. From slacker Pavement rock, to …And You Will Know Us by the Trail of the Dead intensity and even bringing it back to elements of mainstream with flirtations at simple four chord pop punk and vocal hooks. They are in some ways still a young band, yet show signs of professionalism through ambition and persistence.

Tonight’s show featured a higher level of production than the band has experienced in the past and a greater focus on spectacle will see them earning praise from a wider medium in the future.