Photos by: Tracy Mclaughlan – Kaotic Images
Another Sunday I find myself making my way to The Tivoli in Brisbane. Sunday gigs are great I must say. Normally there is minimal traffic going through the city, which is always appreciated.
On this occasion, we have a gathering of metalheads to welcome back The Ghost Inside. As most of you would remember, their support slots were cut short on Parkway Drive’s 20th Anniversary tour, and The Ghost Inside made a point of saying they will be back to Australia to make up for that. Although it was no fault of their own, I don’t see anyone complaining about a whole TGI tour!
For me the weight of this band is heavy on my heart. They have sound tracked many milestones for me since high school. A few years ago I packed up my little car with everything I owned along with my dog Winston, lizard Stamper and set forth to start my new journey to Brisbane. You best believe that The Ghost Inside’s Chrono was blasting as I watched Cairns disappear in my review mirror. This song still moves me every time I hear it. Music is truly a gift that has the ability to lift you, give you strength and carry you through those rough times of uncertainty.
‘Looking forward for a taste of things to come, I can’t see familiar faces on anyone. Life is trying to pass me by, but not this time. I am not afraid’.
I couldn’t miss the opportunity to support the band that has always been there for me.
Coming along for the ride were Day of Contempt, who have been busy after supporting 50 Lions on their New Reality album release show earlier this week, and Glasgow’s Bleed From Within, who have made their way here for their first ever Australian tour.
Day of Contempt swooped in giving the crowd a healthy dose of hardcore, setting the tone for the night and getting everyone’s two-steps in check. DOC have been around for a hot minute, not counting the time spent having a break, and it’s extremely fitting to have them supporting The Ghost Inside on this special tour – bands that have solidified lifetime fans. It was amazing to look around and see their die hard fans singing their hearts out and reliving their youth and appreciating the fact that Day Of Contempt are back gracing our stages once again since lighting that fire again for the Froth & Fury Festival in 2024.
Next up is Bleed From Within. Although this may be their first tour in Aus’, they made damn sure they weren’t soon to be forgotten. Holy fucking heck! Everyone was tuned into their set and having an absolute blast. They turned out I Am Damnation and everyone in the band was having the best time, it was infectious. I was quite impressed that they managed to get the crowd crouched down for the big unison jump up for God Complex.
They succumbed to the rumour of our ‘culture’ & took part in a shoey. Fuck sake, is this really what we are identifying as ‘our culture’ Australia? This has really caught on, it’s too late now… Anyway, after dissing the quality, or rather cleanliness of the shoes offered on stage, 5 shoeys were done in unison. I guess this has initiated you into our world, Bleed From Within, and you will now be formally considered family to us all. The End Of All We Know had the crowed singing along with Bleed From Within and will be something I will remember them by. Please come back soon!
Now it’s time for the main act. I have to mention that their backdrop graphic had two hands, kind of like the Michelangelo painting, (see photos below), although without the pointing fingers and from where I was standing the hands were perfectly holding up Andrew Tkaczyk’s cymbals and that was a really cool & fitting sentiment. Like clockwork, The Ghost Inside entered the stage with their outfits in perfect synchronicity at 9:45pm, and I was already sold!
The feeling from the Going Under, The Outcast & The Great Unknown was huge. Sometimes being the last show of the tour is special, it’s like a warm night cap shared with friends and I feel lucky to be able to share that memory.
Everyone was hyped up and matched the energy from the band tenfold, no one in that building was standing still. We were lucky enough to have songs spanning their whole repertoire, pleasing all walks of life in the crowd. The Ghost Inside has been through hell and back. They aren’t afraid to talk about it and have shared their experience & healing journey with us over the years. For me, I feel emotional watching this band stand in front of me and play their hearts out, and truly honoured they make the journey across the globe just to share this with us, their fans.
Singer Jonathan Vigil shared with us before ripping into Pressure Point.
‘We are a band who writes songs to help you get through those hardships. Sometimes the only way to get through something is to be pissed off. This song is about that…’
The Ghost Inside have survived through their own personal hell, and turned it into something their fans will be able to connect with for years to come. Just shy of 20 songs, The Ghost Inside offered up to us a front row seat and showcased their career over the years – only further cementing our love for them.
It goes to show what kind of amazing humans The Ghost Inside are – to even think they owed us anything and needed to make good on this show is a crazy thought. With that said, I’m SO happy and appreciative that we got to experience this tour. I hope they felt that love too. After being stuck at home in bed all week, this gig had me shuffling in my Connies with my Ren and Stimpy sock combo, putting a massive smile on my face.
Don’t be strangers now…
DAY OF CONTEMPT
BLEED FROM WITHIN
THE GHOST INSIDE
