Entrance Leagues Club
Friday March 28, 2014 :
FreeSecks stepped up to the stage first, as the crowd continuously made their way into the room, ready for a night of local Aussie rock’n’roll. I enjoyed their alternate melodic sound and I didn’t mind the vocals. They seemed to me to be quite raw, but perhaps a bit unseasoned on the live stage. I would love to see them again in six months or so after they have the chance to do more live shows to see them as a tighter, more united group.
Hidden Ace took to the stage and they were groovy. I couldn’t help but relax and just want to dance. The bass player in particular caught my attention with his groovy phrasing. The keyboard in this group really added depth and variety to their sound. The room continued to fill, and with their memorable sound everyone’s attention was focused on the stage.
In Hydes Shadow has a great vocalist, it was striking, deep and I might even say mysterious. Overall they had a much heavier and more confronting sound than the musicians before them. Personally I am not a listener of the “scream” genre of vocalists, while it wasn’t throughout the whole set it did feel to dominate a few of the tracks. The music behind it felt deep, and through the bass and drum sounds I felt I connected with them and I did enjoy their set.
After a few technical issues for the sound guy were sorted, October Rage had the crowd pumping almost instantaneously. The lead vocalist is charming and has great stage presence, one that captivated and mesmerised the audience. The beat was pumping and you could feel the bass and the drums right through your body. Playing an array of originals with Phil Collins’ ‘In The Air Tonight’, the crowd were soaking up every moment of this set. I particularly enjoyed how each band member looked like they were having so much fun, this energy rubbed off on the crowd and there were nothing but smiles all round.
As Smokin’ Mirrors began, everyone surged to the front of the room as close to the stage as they could get. I enjoyed the lead vocalist’s voice, she was strong, confident and great to watch. This was a key point of difference for this band and works really well for them. With the opening tracks featuring bagpipes, it added a really great element of fun to the tracks. The combination of covers mixed in with originals really amplified the electric energy that had built up across the night and watching all the band members with their endless energy was thrilling. Upon finishing their set, the crowd demanded more and despite the exhaustion following such a high-energy show, they gave us more in the form of a spectacular medley of Aussie rock covers. If you can get their hands on their new EP, they are worth your time.
Reviewer and Photographer: Courtney Laura
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