Producer and musician Adrian Mauro has become a fixture in the Brisbane music scene with his electronic-rock project Machine Age.
After slowly releasing a number of singles, Adrian has recruited drummer Dylan Stewart, released new single ‘Fighting’ and is now readying the project’s debut EP.
At Brisbane’s The Milk Factory (2 March), the sold-out first stop of their headline tour, the duo showed they’re ready for the big time.
The night began with local singer-songwriter Beneb. With guitar in hand, he performed with backing from his laptop, which included the quirk of pre-recorded banter.
Beneb smiled throughout his loose set, which included impromptu accompaniment from two drummers. At times the live playing and recordings didn’t gel, but songs like the funky head-bopper ‘Crazy’ overcame problems and proved infectious fun.
Click here to read our February 2018 interview with Machine Age.
The small room was crammed with bodies before Machine Age took the stage. Opening with ‘Daggers’, the planned next single from the EP, fans were hit with rib-rattling bass.
Dylan blasted in with his powerful drumming; every hit sounding like a cannon. Dylan’s energy was matched by Adrian’s guitar, together creating a bombastic chemistry.
Old songs benefitted from Dylan’s addition, boosting Adrian’s fantastic choruses to new heights. The combination proved too powerful during the first chorus of ‘Chivalry’ when a loud smash from shattering glasses could be heard from the bar.
Machine Age saved new single ‘Fighting’ for last; a perfect choice for closer. The sound grows with each line in the verses, reaching for the explosive chorus. The first chorus was slightly underwhelming, missing the impact of the recording.
But the two realise its full potential on the song’s finale, covering it in clattering drums and distorted guitars and reaching the heights Adrian aimed for.
The new incarnation of Machine Age has grown from their humble beginnings of Adrian alone with his samplers. The new, live sound is powerful and the new songs are wonderful, marking the duo as contenders for breakout artists of 2018.
If this set is anything to go by, the age of Machine Age has arrived.
