Review by Mathew Barton
Photography by Bethany Mafrici
From the moment Melbourne five-piece Harbours walk on stage frontman Tory Robertson tries to get the crowd moving but it’s to avail. Ultimately, the three quarter full room barely move (bar timid claps at the end of songs) as the alternative rock/(almost) post-hardcore group play through their three song set. You can only feel for the band because they definitely are talented musicians but it proves just how hard being a local band opening a show can be.
I apologise to The Early November fans but I just can’t get into their set. Their style of alt./indie rock music just doesn’t do it for me which is a shame because I do quite like frontman “Ace” Enders side project Ace Enders and a Million Different People.
By the time Mayday Parade hit the stage the venue is fairly packed, although, for a sold out show; I have seen 170 Russell busier. The screams ring out as they kick things off with Jersey. Every die-hard fan in the venue sings along with Derek Sanders every word. When You See My Friends and personal favourite Jamie All Over soon follow before they slow things down a bit Letting Go.
One thing becomes quickly obvious – Mayday Parade fans are obsessive and know every word to every song. In fact, some songs the crowd are MUCH louder than Sanders and you can tell the band are loving it. This is Mayday Parade’s sixth time in Australia and it’s very clear how much they love touring the country.
Before you know it the band is bringing their main set to an end with the much loved Miserable At Best which is actually finished off by the crowd as Sanders walks away from his keyboard smiling towards the end of the song. It’s something I’ve never seen happen before but the crowd soak it up.
It isn’t long before they return to the stage, and with the promise to return to Australia as soon as they can it all comes to an end with I’d Hate To Be You When People Find Out What This Song Is About. One thing is for sure, Mayday Parade knows how to put on one hell of a rock show.
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