The Brisbane leg of Monolith Festival brings lovers of prog, experimental rock and metal to Eatons Hill Hill's outdoor venue (13 August). Seven impressive bands are set to hit the stage, and this lady aims to not miss a single one.
I enter the outdoor arena just after 1pm behind a mob of punctual punters also keen to see all talent on offer. There are many bodies draped in plastic, casing the merch tent or nabbing a bite to eat from the food vans.It's nearly 2pm. As Perth based, experimental instrumental prog-art rockers Yomi Ship are about to kick off proceedings, I throw on my rain jacket and depart from my place of shelter to head to the stage in the rain.
I imagine how stoked Yomi Ship must walking on stage to see punters standing in the light rain to take in their set. There are punters who played it safe, waterproofed against the forecasted rain and those who didn't and are not fazed by the water at all. Either way it is demonstrative of punter love of live music.
From their first piece, it's obvious that Yomi Ship are capable of headlining their own shows as they unleash loud and live music at Monolith. Unleashing? Yes indeed they are, and we are willingly going along for the exciting psychedelic carpet ride through the musical terrain of their eclectic compositions.
Yomi Ship - image © Clea-marie Thorne
I think they'd be great at making a fantastic score for a new 'Yu-Gi-Oh!' manga series (there has to be link with a name like that, right?).
Being the first of three instrumental-only bands on the programme, Yomi Ship show punters that while vocals add a dimension to a band, they're not always necessary. The quality of musicianship is truly understood as we watch and listen to the ripping riffage and melodies Yomi Ship bring about in their songs including 'Seamonkey', 'Ice Drake' and 'S.H.A.M.A.N' to the gathering crowd.
Despite having no vocalist up front they have us first timers absorbed in their sounds. Loud cheers are being called out as they leave the stage.
Second band up are Sydneysiders Reliqa. Led by frontwoman Monique Pym, who takes no time bringing her sass and force front and centre with 'The Bearer Of Bad News', the band behind her play it loud and tight, making it hard not to rock our heads back and forth on our necks.
Reliqa bring punters hustling closer to the barrier and they reward us with 'Mr Magic' and 'The Halfway Point'. We're told all songs from here on are newbies including 'Safety', which was only released last week. Punters get a special treat – Dylan Davidson from Deadlights makes a guest appearance for this one. Damn, and we are the witnesses!
Reliqa - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Other newbies include 'Second Nature' and 'The Ritualist', before closing their hammering set with 'I Don't Know What I Am'. Well we know. . . as a true ocker besides yells out: "Youse are bloody damn good!" The rest of the crowd, still not minding the rain, give hefty cheers in appreciation.
Another band hailing from Sydney, sleepmakeswaves are next up. Even though I have seen them recently, I can say today has not come soon enough to get me some more of their transcendental post-rock bangers. The goose pimples come on with 'Tundra' and I breathe in rocking and rolling rhythms of 'The Starts Are Stigmata'.
We're being asked if we've ever been in a situation when we've been doing something all the time and then all of a sudden you are not. . . for three years.
sleepmakeswaves - image © Clea-marie Thorne
We yell out in sympathy and in retort we are told how happy the band is to be on stage – just like teen lads letting loose in the garage to play after being banned, the beats and rhythms are coming hard and deep – and we are loving it.
'Great Northern' and 'Something Like Avalanches' are played before their latest song makes its first concert debut: 'Pyramids'. This one comes with a fuzz ahead of spaced-out notes that build in speed to pick us up to take us to an otherworldly plane before dropping us into a wormhole of tight rhythm and special sounds for a good eight minutes or more. I am left heady.
Plini who I have also seen recently, is now taking to the stage with his regular band of fine musicians in tow.
I haven't yet touched back down from sleepmakeswaves and I'm off on a trippy and crushing set of exceptional instrumentation from Plini and the band. Their truly cinematic instrumental experience is going over well with fans as well as unsuspecting punters.
Plini - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Plini tells us we're all good looking and to enjoy a bit more of their annoying music, which has been enhancing the well-orchestrated festival flavour thus far.
Their perfected arrangements are pulsating and soaring from the stage as we punters are getting intoxicated by Plini tracks that included 'I'll Tell You Someday', 'Every Piece Matters' and I cannot leave out the fan favourite 'Electric Sunrise'.
I feel spent from all the musical stimulation so far, and decide if I am going to go the distance tonight I need some food to get me through – it's getting colder. If you must know, I am opting for hot comfort food of meatballs and gravy.
With a glut of nu-metal riffage and furious progressive hardcore blends and momentous beats, Ocean Grove are a whirlwind on stage and are giving it up loud and live after a booming reception from punters.
Ocean Grove - image © Clea-marie Thorne
What better song to start with than 'Superstar'!? Frontman Dale Tanner is taking absolute command of the Monolith stage. He's stalking to and fro as the sun is setting on the day. 'Junkies', 'Sex Dope Gold' and 'Guts From The Gord' has punters pogoing while arms and fingers are seen high in the air.
But is it not over, 'Thousand Golden People' is next and the lights are actually lighting up the hair and heads in the crowd with a goldish glow. I wonder if that was orchestrated?
With the rain now subsided, it's even more fitting that 'Silver Lining' is being played for us. We get a few more songs before Ocean Grove call it a set concluding with 'Sunny'. Fans go berserk as Tanner jumps from the stage and gets into the pit held by the arms of the moshers and he even stays a while singing to them. I hope the lads come visit soon. Victoria is not that far you know.
The temperature has dropped, but the crowd numbers have risen and this pack of live music hungry punters have eyes focussed on the stage, ready to absorb the sounds about to infiltrate their ear lugs.
Cog - image © Clea-marie Thorne
The sound of crushing cans can be heard as Cog fans inch closer and closer to the stage. The long and lilting opening of 'Bitter Pills' starts and fans start to sway with heads thrown back.
Melodic, heavy and intricate are words that best describe Cog's set that is shaping up to be a superb blend of their very early bangers that have stood the test of time and later material we have also passionately fallen in love with.
We get to sing loudly and with emotion to 'Anarchy Ok' and 'What If' with extended play because these guys know that live music is where it is at – yeah baby! We even get their Leftfield cover just to ensure all bases are covered – ha!
Cog - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Our hearts and heads also soaking with the ambience of rolling rhythms highlighted by riffs and vocals we have come to love in 'Resonate', 'The Middle', 'The Spine' and 'No Other Way'.
Ending with one of the oldies but goodies 'Bird Of Feather' – that's exactly how we look and feel, flocked before these inspiring musicians who are now coming together front of stage to bid us farewell with a bow.
We give up rowdy cheers and screams in response. Gobsmacking it was. Headliners in their own right. So good, so damn good!
Now it's time for the festival headliners Karnivool, but what is going on? A sheer black curtain is hanging front of stage and we can make out shapes moving and shifting gear on stage. A mystery.
Speaking of mysteries, there is something magical when Karnivool music is played live and I suspect tonight will be no exception. Already there's electricity fuelled by punter anticipation filling the atmosphere in the arena. The bigger live sound of Karnivool is just so addictive, it has been no surprise to see the sea of Karnivool tees and hoodies at the festival today.
Being a junkie for the live vibe. I sure as heck know if I ever miss a show, I suffer acute withdrawal and there's no consoling me. While we are enthusiastically waiting, punters all chime in for a god awful rendition of 'Bohemian Rhapsody'.
Before long, 'Fear Of The Sky' can be heard as we're seeing silhouettes behind the mesh curtain and all of a sudden blazing blue lights are dotting the mesh. Karnivool are met with a rowdy roar from the crowed.
Karnivool - image © Clea-marie Thorne
While I am all about the music, I am hoping this Tool-style stage format is not going to be for the whole show. As quick as that thought came, down comes the curtain and we're awash with white light. Stagehands are now scrabbling to remove the mesh from the stage as Ian Kenny's backlit silhouette comes towards us.
You can guess it – this is where we lose our sh.t! We, the fans are singing their songs right back at them as they're seemingly playing their instruments effortlessly as we're snapping our necks to their big bass drops and smashing drumbeats.
'Goliath', 'Simple Boy', 'Animation', 'Set Fire To The Hive', 'The Refusal' and 'We Are' are totally devoured by fans who are set on willingly destroying themselves to the sounds as they are swinging arms, dancing and headbanging in the pit to the beats.
Karnivool are definitely keeping up with their reputation of delivering music with a depth, breadth and energy that assaults the senses. They have my heart pounding from the rush of it – or is that the bass and kick resounding against my rib cage?
Karnivool - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Kenny makes a statement about how great Australian music is. We scream in agreement. Who would have thought COVID lockouts ever happened, with Karnivool playing to us like they've never been far away from the stage, I am excited for their forthcoming album all the more.
Now blasting through two of the giants of their set 'Roquefort' and 'Themata', I selfishly take these to be a live gift – these are two of a few that bring tears to my eyes and big smiles on my face tonight. 'Themata' had the fans in the crowd getting even more nuts if that was possible, animated bodies flung themselves to and fro and voices were shouting out the lyrics in unison. It is fandom at its most intense.
'New Day' would be another that gets me emotional and an inner squeal escapes as they start to play it. Closing out the night with 'All It Takes' punters continue to sing loudly and then chant the intro to the final song 'Fade' before cutting loose as it punches in.
Barely a body took license to leave the venue ahead of the end of the song, rather we stayed transfixed until the very last note rang out. It was so worth standing in the low lying fog and feeling just a tad cold to experience such a stunning performance. My cup is now steaming and full, and I'm exhausted.
Karnivool are as relevant now as they have ever been. In my biased opinion a truly majestic band. With the sublime and varied vocals of Kenny to the pensive and contemplating melodies and heavier riffage of guitars and drums that can appear from nowhere or be gently built up to, just ensures that Karnivool's compositions are keepers, not a fashion trend to be found on the $5 throw-out table in five years time. Bring on the new tunes!
Karnivool - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Monolith was without a doubt a full-bodied success; each and every band gave top-notch performances that held the attention of the crowd before them. The size of the festival was just right, which made it easy to meet up with old mates, meet online friends and connections from the scene for the first time, and connect with like-minded souls sharing this experience.
The single stage set-up meant all our goodies were on the one, big stage and no clashes – bang on event organisers, that and the park and shuttle option – winning!
If I'm asked if the festival was good – that'd be a big hell yes! Monolith's Brisbane leg was a crushing success and being outdoors just gave it a real festival feel. Fingers crossed we get a Monolith 2023 and if the line-up is as killer and complementary as what we got dished up today. . . tickets will no doubt sell out and I for one won't be missing out.
More photos from the festival.
Monolith Festival 2022 Tour Dates
Sat 20 Aug - Bella Vista Farm (Sydney)Sat 27 Aug - PICA (Melbourne)
Sat 17 Sep - Red Hill Auditorium (Perth)
