This takes me back to last week when I was watching Primus. The bass player from opening Toowoomba instrumental three-piece Vahlia is some kind of incredible anomaly, like Neo in ‘The Matrix’.
These guys would make great soundtracks to some killer movies. Probably, literally movies involving death. They’re so brutal, they don’t need words. What a dapper, dairy-free treat, Vahlia.
Something Something Explosion backed up their show from last Friday supporting Butterfingers on the same stage with a little less fire, but successfully smashed out a bass-intense track they wrote lyrics to only four days prior.
After a weaning break, Child Bite start gnashing. Holy moly, the energy has just exploded. These four Yanks are off the chain.
I can’t understand a word, but vocalist Shawn Knight has plenty of actions to interpret the drama and the guy shredding on the Fender Jag has no shirt. He introduces himself after the show as a lovely chap called Jeremy Waun, who also dabbles in folk music.
I can’t believe what huge sound (all the way from Detroit, Michigan) is coming from that ridiculous stage. Sometimes I can’t tell the difference between the screaming and the squealing guitar. It was absolutely hectic.
Also, I’m not sure I can feel my ears.
'Star Wars' music indicates the arrival of the headline set and King Parrot spew forth their opening track.
“Where’s the pit?” a punter cries pitifully. “I don’t know mate,” vocalist Youngy (Matthew Young) replies. “I’m in the ****en band, you’re in the pit.” I’m struck by the realisation he does scream a bit like a parrot.
Click here to read our recent interview with Youngy.
And then we have a pit. Toowoomba: you were few in number, but you had a good go. One kid drove three hours to be there and the band got everyone to come in close for the very last song, so he could crowd surf. It was actually quite an amazing accomplishment.
Daimon, bass player from SSE, cautioned me in the break that if I haven’t heard these guys before that they might be a bit of an acquired taste. I dunno, I feel like I’m experiencing Australian wildlife in its natural habitat (though I’m not sure when the last time was that I saw wildlife spit down its own chin).
Australia Zoo eat your heart out: King Parrot’s ‘Regional Rampage’ tour is bringing the zoo to the people.
The only punter in the crowd with longer dreads than the drummer is wearing a shirt explaining what a drop bear is, how apt. An insidious Australian surprise - that’s what this is. Put that in an Easter egg, Cadbury.
King Parrot have the most extensive range of merchandise I’ve seen in ages, so any tourists can take a piece of Australia all the way back home with them.
Some of the items are patches. Youngy jokingly welcomes purchasers as “patched members of the King Parrot Motorcycle Club: one percenters.”
He says it does look like 1% of Toowoomba came out tonight. Bass player tells us he loves us by saying “this is me (sic) favourite 1% of Toowoomba”.
“This one’s for all the ice addicts and meth heads in the room. It’s a love song.” Hard to tell, really.
The bass player might be going blind from the sweat he’s getting in his eyes, but he’s still doing the actions. They’ve been such great actors tonight, Child Bite and King ‘rot: you blokes are theatrical heavyweights.
‘Die Before You Die’ (from their latest album ‘Ugly Produce’) breaks into a relatively clean, heavy, guitar riff. That’s my kinda sauce, but still it’s been a tasty trip, lads.
Thanks for playing, King Parrot. Better than a magpie any day. Speaking of pie…
King Parrot and Child Bite continue hitting servos all the way to Victoria for their eight remaining shows.
