After two quiet years, Don Broco made a triumphant return to the stage to the adoration of hundreds of lucky Brisbane punters, putting on a hell of a performance likely to be long-remembered.
Supporting their most recent adventure around the Australian coastline, the Bedford-locals brought Australian sweethearts RedHook and Future Static along for the ride, curating a stellar line-up of rock & roll.
Kicking off the festivities on a charming Thursday evening (4 September) in Woolloongabba at The Princess Theatre, Future Static took to the stage, warming the crowd and preparing them for what was evidently going to be a high-energy evening.
With their melding of modern-core and highly melodic style, Future Static have promptly made a name for themselves over the last several years across the Australian alternative scene.
Frontwoman Amariah Cook delivers soaring vocals, often receiving melodic harmonisation from bassist and backing vocalist, Kira Neil with precision and refinement beyond their years.
This juxtaposes phenomenally against Cook's crushing vocals that receive more than a fair peppering throughout the short, but sweet set delivered to the filling Princess Theatre room.
Lucky enough to experience this act a number of times over the last several years, it's exceptionally exciting to see this young act continue to grow, refine, and improve with each venture they embark on.
Being active participants in the Australian touring cycle with no signs of slowing down, fans of homegrown-core are in for a treat whenever they're lucky enough to bear witness to one of this country's hottest up-and-comers.
The room all but fills as we move into this tour package's main support – you know 'em, you love 'em, they rock – RedHook. The four piece, hailing from Sydney, emerge to the stage in their beloved over-the-top fashion, led by frontwoman Emmy Mack.
To no one's surprise, the energy of this group is stellar from the very first second of their performance. Leading with 'Bomb.com', Mack starts the set with one of several outfits that will rotate throughout the performance – a black puffer jacket with giant shapes, embodying a solid hip hop vibe before shedding this 'fit into the signature bodysuit and camo cargos for the majority of the remainder of their set.
From a visual perspective, this band has it all. High energy, spins, kicks, and hair everywhere that are all a part of the exciting delivery this band puts on to the delight of their fans.
Driven with an incredibly tight rhythm section of Ned Jankovic (bass) and Alex Powys (drums), and accentuated through the flair of multi-instrumentalist Craig Wilkinson (guitar, primarily), this act is electric, and has the execution of a well-oiled machine.
As RedHook launches into 'Hot Tub', bubbles flood the stage, accentuating the pink and purple lighting display that properly encapsulates the sultry vibe of the evidently fan-favourite track. Just another example of the dynamism curated by the Sydney locals.
Fans are delighted with the inclusion of Future Static's Amariah joining the stage for the performance of 'HEXXX' ensuring that each song throughout the evening has a point-of-difference; a strategy that really supports the star-power evidently exuding from Mack and co.
Well before the mid-point of the band's set, Mack is manic with energy and somehow manages to fit another two costume changes into the set before its conclusion. From shouting out the OGs in a couple of older tracks, to allowing one lucky punter (shoutout Joel) to have a moment in the spotlight during fan-favourite 'Breaking Up With' to celebrate his most recent rotation around the sun, the iconic tune features the soaring saxophone of Wilkinson, and sends the crowd into a ravenous frenzy.
Closing out with personal favourite and arguably the act's most critically acclaimed track 'Bad Decisions', RedHook leaves on a high note with fans sweaty, exciting, and incredibly excited for the main course of the evening.
Another hard working and regularly touring Australian staple, RedHook can be found on a plethora of support slots around the country, alongside their own well-deserved headline shows and tours.
As the lights drop across the stage and the soaring vocals of "no one's ever seen me like this," launch through the speakers of the venue, the moment of reckoning is upon us as the boys from Bedford take to the stage with the gusto they're known and adored for.
From the first drop into the infectious grooves of the opening track, the crowd bounces in unison with such vigour the floor could be felt shifting beneath the feet of all. For a moment, I feared for the safety of the venue as this crowd was rowdy, rambunctious and mirroring the high-intensity that Don Broco demonstrated constantly over the course of the next 60-odd minutes.
The curated set list of the evening was second-to-none, checking nearly all the boxes that any Don Broco fan could reasonably expect for a headline show of a band of this calibre.
While not one to document each individual track in forums like this, a moment of recognition is deserved when discussing the evening. 'Come Out To LA', 'Gumshield', 'Uber', 'Manchester Super Reds No.1 Fan', 'Superlove', and 'Endorphins' are all included in the 15-track set list, and each single moment of the evening is filled with a swagger that truly sets this band apart.
Frontman Rob Damiani radiates the kind of natural rockstar confidence that puts Don Broco in a league of their own. Combine this with a flawless execution of his unique and recognisable vocal style, and the combination is deadly in all the right ways.
Unbeknownst to me (somehow over the years of being a fan of Don Broco I have never been inclined to watch any video clips – I know, I'm a fake-fan), a fair share of vocal support is provided by drummer (and backing vocalist) Matt Donnelly.
The pair harmonise and support each other with fantastic vocal layering and juxtaposition, which creates a sonic thickness impressive for a fairly bare-bones band; all while Donnelly stills lays down solid, sonic foundation, with flair impressive for someone delivering such a strong vocal performance.
While bare-bones in the way of being only four members and the occasional backing track, these incredibly talented musicians are working hard for their wages. Guitarist Simon Delaney is a dynamo running on overdrive with more rotations-per-minute than a beyblade, and kick-kicks rivalling those of professional dancers.
I'd love to see his step count after their set as the man seemed to never stop moving; except when playing the mounted acoustic guitar throughout the evening – a sign of musicianship that is often emulated with modern amp profiling instead of the raw and authentic experience to which I personally prefer.
Bassist and keyboardist Tom Doyle rounds out the line-up, again adding a depth to the act with flair and flavour essential to the creation of their unique and not easily replicated signature soundscape.
Damiani banters with the crowd throughout the evening with a charm and flair that die-hards have come to expect at this point, and even candidly joked with the crowd that "we were supposed to have an album recorded and released by now, however, well, we don't".
While we may still be waiting for the release of the act's fifth studio album, Brisbane fans were treated to a genuine world-first – the debut live performance of not one, but two tracks: 'Cellophane' and 'Hype Man'.
In a moment of authentic concern and apprehension, Damiani shares that as this truly is the first appearance of these songs in a live environment, the band are slightly concerned at the technical challenges they have set themselves.
However to no surprise of anyone present, these tracks were executed flawlessly as if they'd been performed a million times prior. The new era of Don Broco is set to be an incredibly exciting one – although long-term fans would have never had any doubt about this hit-machine quartet.
In an endearing moment removing a personal pet-peeve (adult peekaboo aka the faux-stage exit for an obvious encore), Damiani advises the crowd that he and his bandmates are going to walk off the stage to pretend they're finished before coming back on to perform two more songs before saying goodnight.
A moment of clarity and adoration sweeps over me as hundreds of shirts are stripped off or removed from pant waistbands and begin swinging above the heads of the packed Princess Theatre as the band kicks into the final song of the evening; the iconic 'T-Shirt Song'.
These guys must be doing numbers at the merch table because I would comfortably suggest that at least half of the crowd has picked up a piece of merch for this moment alone.
Damiani comments that of course Brisbane fans are jacked, complementing the physique of several sweaty punters in the front of the mosh who are now half naked for their contribution to the conclusion of a truly phenomenal evening.
As my first Don Broco live experience, I can promise it won't be my last. If you get the chance, don't hesitate – you'll walk away sweaty, smiling, and already planning the next one.
