Words by: Leland Hallett
Photos by: Danielle Sedick
You know those mornings when you wake up and your neck feels like you have slept in the wrong position for four days, your voice is dry and has a certain squeak to it. Reminiscent of your 13 year old self, but your mind is clear, refreshed, you feel better than you have in a long time? Well like me, you know its all due to one thing; seeing a concert you know is one of the best concerts you will ever go to. That’s big talk to start a review on but follow me and you will see why this is one that will stick with me.
Firstly, to have a good concert there is two things that need to be on point:
Number one, a good venue. When bands plan shows it is imperative to select a venue that isn’t to big nor to small, too big and you play to a half empty room, to small and you end up having more people not being able to come than attendees and that is never a great feeling for fans and musicians alike. Secondly, great sound.
Northcote Theatre never seems to under deliver on that aspect. Besides the heritage and look of the amazing building it always just seems to have this loud enough but clear sound and last night did not disappoint, I must start this by acknowledging the sound engineers, who did a great job keeping the vocals clear and the music hitting perfectly. From the front all the way to the second level bar the sound was on point. Hats off to you for providing us listeners an amazing experience.
But as I digress, I should bring it back to what we where united in being there for, to see a group of amazing bands and to feel the energy right through our souls.
First out of the ranks, the hometown hero’s, Lune;
I myself have been a recent listener to Lune and I am still learning much about this incredible group of musicians from Melbourne.
I was first introduced to Lune by a friend who came home from seeing Northlane. These guys have really set themselves apart in a short amount of time and last night did not disappoint.
They have a strong energy on stage, focused and to the point. They knew their assignment; To get the crowd ready for what’s to come, and they knew they had to deliver because what was coming would hit like a tidal wave.
Lunes’ vocalist Nathaniel Smith delivered an outstanding performance alongside the rest of the band. His powerful vocals and huge stance on stage provided exactly what the crowd wanted. The music was tight and heavy, their stand out moment was when they began Exit (inward). When a man with that much charisma tells the crowd to jump they listen and this was really a turning point of what’s to come. At this point I feel security knew they should have taken the night off because it was about to get serious.
It’s great when a crowd is at a concert just as much to see an opening band as they are the headliner and Lune had them eating out of their hands. My track of the night was Ghost, delivered perfectly with a band that was just as into the set as the crowd, this really drove home what Lune are about and I can see big things coming for these guys!
After a short break – one other thing this concert delivered exceptionally well; change over times where short and there was barely enough time to grab a drink and catch a breathe before the next wave of heavy came at you.
Nasty where up next; traveling with Paleface Swiss and delivering some of the biggest and heaviest break downs I have heard, their branded sound, a mix of deathcore/beatdown was delivered as intense as their studio recordings, just with even more energy. For the least listened to band out of the three I have to admit they punched me right in the jaw.
They came out swinging and the crowd fired back, punch for punch, Nasty gave more, the crowd gave more. But everyone came out on top, especially the new fans Nasty found like myself who now have another must see again band!
A notable moment later in the night was when Paleface Swiss vocalist, Marc “Zelli” Zellweger, spoke about Nasty giving Paleface Swiss their first support slot, something we all should be forever grateful for. I hold bands who respect the bands like Nasty who helped them start, and acknowledge if it wasn’t for them most likely none of us would have had the concert we did last night.
Then the calm before the storm. The crowd grew quiet and phones went into the air as black silhouettes walks onto the dark stage.
BANG Hatred starts, my favourite Paleface Swiss track, what a way to come out and say ‘where here, now lets party.’
The hits didn’t stop, the song choices where outstanding and the set flowed keeping the crowd in a trance of head banging, chanting and crowd surfing. These boys love a pit and Melbourne was happy to oblige.
Zelli’s Vocals are outstanding, for a man who announced his voice isn’t up to scratch I couldn’t fault it. His band, absolute animals that where locked onto each other. Only thing better than a band who has a singer with as much charisma as Zelli brings to the stage is when every member holds their own. Swapping sides and just enjoying such a big moment for Paleface Swiss.
To come out a year ago supporting In Hearts Wake, and return to the month a year later headlining their own SOLD OUT show; oh did I mention it was a sold out assault on the Northcote Theatre?, The Merch line running all the way from the main foyer right up to the stage. I haven’t seen it this packed in their for a long time!
Paleface Swiss bought it over and over and the set felt like it went for 15 minutes. I must say by this point I was just to into seeing them live and knew I would remember this show the next day with out a doubt, to be able to let you all know how insanely good all three bands where and if you don’t see them you are missing out!
Paleface have definitely had an impact on the metal community with one fellow fan traveling out from Japan just to see them live, something Zelli and the boys really honoured and handed him a set list and guitar pic!
A very brutal awakening for fans who have not seen them live before, the way they just come out and present this unstoppable live show just sets apart Paleface Swiss and shows exactly that; the recordings are good but the live show is just Phenomenal.
The humbleness of the band towards the end of the night really made these larger than life characters real again stating:
‘We have come half way across the world and are playing to the biggest crowd we have ever played’
And then it was over the band said their goodbyes and left…… but the crowd wanted more and the chants grew louder ‘ONE MORE SONG, ONE MORE SONG.’
Zelli came back out and even stated that they aren’t big on encores but just incase, here is one we prepared earlier and did the crowd go off! One last rapid assault of brutal delivered with everyone as united as ever.
Thank you Lune, Nasty and Paleface Swiss for delivering a show I will always remember for the music, atmosphere and the crowd. If you are in Sydney, Newcastle or Brisbane make sure you get to one of these shows.
