The Getaway Plan, Break Even,Gatherer, Madisonfoxx @ TheHi-Fi, Brisbane (23/11/2011)

Mon 28th Nov, 2011 in Gig Reviews

The Hi-Fi is one of the better venues in Brisbane when it comes to live music, and The Getaway Plan ’s latest visit did nothing to tarnish that reputation. Despite a slight delay in getting doors open, the overall organisation and atmosphere is hard to beat.

Off to a snappy start for the night were Mackay boys Madisonfoxx, playing to a pretty reserved crowd. A heap of people were sitting on the floor, with one row firmly established on the barrier. The band did a great job, putting in 110% and setting everyone up for an awesome night. They had some technical difficulties early in their twenty-five minute set and pushed through almost an entire song without a guitar/backup vocalist. The remaining members managed to hold it together and pull it off, showing everyone that nothing short of a natural disaster in the venue was going to stop them from playing their set, and playing it well.

Gatherer were next on the bill, and it seemed like no one really knew what to expect from the New Zealand band. They had a very different feel to their music, a bit rock-y with a twist. To use the words of one punter, “They are good at what they do, but what they do is weird”. They got much the same reception as Madisonfoxx, playing to a crowd that was still treating the bands as background to their social outing.

This finally changed when Perth reps Break Even brought their blend of punk and hardcore to the stage. They have a very solid fan base established in Brisbane, thanks to previous tours with bands like Alexisonfire. Turns out the people who had been sitting down actually did have working limbs and could not only stand up, but also move around and get into the music. Break Even brought heaps of power, passion and energy to their set, making it an awesome live show even for those who might not have expected a great deal from them. They made it their business to show exactly why they deserved their spot alongside one of the best Australian rock acts in recent years.

The Getaway Plan is mainly known for their hits off their debut full-length album, Other Voices, Other Rooms, and they toured that to death over the years since it ravaged our speakers. It was therefore really quite disappointing to see the amount of empty space in the Hi-Fi for this tour to celebrate the release of the new album Requiem, even with the mezzanine closed and only the main floor available. The band apparently noticed the crowd was lacking in volume and enthusiasm, commenting on how quiet everyone was. There was none of the usual banter about the current city being ‘the best to play to’ either.

The dudes from Melbourne have toured enough to know exactly how it’s done, and anyone doubting their live performance should cut out their tongue. They had the perfect balance of old material to new to keep both the Triple J kids and the more dedicated fans happy, beginning with the obvious choice, The Reckoning. Almost every song off Requiem was rolled out during their set, ending with the moving, chant-like Heartstone. After a rather half-hearted call for an encore, they returned with, of course, Where The City Meets The Sea, and then pumped out a second encore, title track Requiem. Vocalist Matthew Wright took the opportunity to remind everyone that his live screams are every bit as polished as his clean vocals.