COG have been touring in celebration of the vinyl releases of their albums, 'The New Normal' (2005) and 'Sharing Spaces' (2008).
Tonight's show is at Brisbane's The Princess Theatre (8 March) – right where I just happen to be post-work. No, it is no coincidence. I've been waiting a little too long for this.Punters enter the venue as well as continuing to congregate the outside garden bar area. Fans are eagerly anticipating tonight’s headliners as much as I am as I overhear many tales of previous COG live experiences.
Joining COG are locals Kodiak Empire and west coasters Yomi Ship. I'm familiar with the live sound of both bands – Yomi Ship played at Monolith Festival with COG in 2022 and Kodiak Empire at the Other Festival in 2023.
Without warning and with the music still playing through the PA, Kodiak Empire made sure they hit the stage at their allotted time. 'Within The Comfort' might have left the gate late but in no time it is grabbing the attention of the early birds and those falling in behind them.
As their set continues, their ambiance of prog that is sometimes met with emo and jazzy elements is washing over the gathering crowd, soaked up by the punters who are enjoying their vibe.
A big roar is returned for the band giving thanks to COG, Yomi Ship, Sheree, Mike Birds Robe and of course Yogi (Matt Donnan, COG's tour manager). We now get a taste of synth infiltrating the guitars and drums, which are collectively worming their way into our ear holes, and continuing on with the next track that doesn't seem to have an end but instead, its ending feedback is pretty much giving birth to 'Marcel', which is their closing song for the night and one that gets beefy claps.
Kodiak Empire - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Yomi Ship are up on the stage ready to take our warmup to the next level by dishing us a taste of their experimental, psychedelic, instrumental prog rock flavour. We find 'Watch Out For The Water' and 'Oni' enticing and moreish.
As the set progresses, fans readily exchange cheers for Yomi Ships' instrumental tunes, including 'Ronin's Lament' and 'The Izoku'. After telling us how COG are up next and that they're real hot and in good form, following our yelps of excitement, their final song 'Pantathians' is announced to us.
I'm impressed with this intricate, yet expansive soundscape and love how the band has matured even more in their sound and artful diversity. Intermission has us all buzzing with excitement and there is much flurry to get drinks and secure places.
Yomi Ship - image © Clea-marie Thorne
However, when Flynn Gower (vocals, guitar), Luke Gower (bass) and Lucius Borich (drums) claim the stage, I feel like time has stopped and I am back living my best life circa 2005.
Another fan also recognises the intro to 'Real Life' and his roar of excitement is creating a domino effect activating punters' vocal cords to vibrate in cheers around the room. The next few seconds we are belting out the words as we ride the current of their sea of sonic nectar while singing: "Into the rip, I'm heading out again. I'm heading out again. Over my head, I can't get out of it!"
The build and explosion of guitar from Flynn Gower lets us know that whether playing fuzzy or clean strings he is in tip top form. Lit! This is shaping up to be one rip-snorter of a gig that I don't ever want to leave, and we are only one song in!
COG - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Speaking of 'rips', COG do just this, to let loose with 'Are You Interested?' before 'Anarchy OK' arrives hot on its heels. Luke Gower is all about the bass bending his body back and forth and screaming into the air; what an angsty edge he puts on this – dense doesn't come close to describing the thick groove.
I had noticed for the first four songs, COG alternating tracks from each of the celebrated albums; that is until Flynn Gower addresses us and encourages us to not be shy and get crooning to 'Swamp'.
The lads then continue to make it a heavy triple dip into 'Sharing Space', with the title track from the album followed up by rock laden 'What If?'. The soaring vocals are themselves inviting us to join in and sing: "What if, life was just an illusion," then screaming out "Made up, by you!".
Flynn Gower is singing his praises for the crew as they get right back into it by belting us about the head with sledgehammers from 'The New Normal'. First up is 'The Spine' with its sense of urgency and lush groove beneath the powerful and honed vocals of Flynn, which are aging with a timbre that just gets richer and richer.
I find myself pondering, like every time I see COG live, how a three-piece can sound so full? There is absolutely NOTHING missing – to add anything more would make it so much less.
COG - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Poignant lyrics invite us to delve into the thought-provoking refrains of raw realities and societal introspection, the exhilarating musicianship envelopes us in the vigour of the live instrumentation of COG's blistering bangers – the recipe is one of a kind.
'Charades' is next with its nod to Adelaide as the crowd continue to sing-along with whopping gusto, adding to the melody and ambiance, while hand punching horns and fists above the heads in the room.
Lucius Borich is proudly showing us his dynamic precision and control – his sticks are dancing on the skins, smashing out challenging grooves and fills. I can even see his leg work vibrating the sh.t out of Julian Assange's face on his kick drumhead.
COG - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Funnily enough after noticing this, Gower addresses the quandary that whistleblowers face bringing truth to light. While it is Assange's face that has been staring at us from the drum riser all night, we are reminded of Aussie whistleblower David McBride and the Afghan Files before he introduces 'The Town Of Lincoln' that vibes a dram or two of David Gilmour (Pink Floyd), just saying.
Borich continues to shine his prowess, centre stage on the tubs during 'Run'. The lyrics, like the name of this song, run out from across our tongues to do laps around the room. As Borich has already done a few times during the set, he's now standing erect behind his kit, with sticks raised, yelling the lyrics before returning to pound the skins and again during 'My Enemy'.
Fans have the throat volume all the way up and around me I can tell that some punters are still joining in with hoarse voices. I can't help but be blown away with the full sound the band are creating with their fans in these last two songs. Crowd surfers are riding the waves, knowing the sonic tide while high, will soon be going out.
The emotive feels of 'Bird Of Feather' are accentuated by a heavy bass that Luke Gower thumps throughout, which has plenty of necks snapping up there on the balcony.
I love the contrast of the unpretentious yet powerful instrumentation against the complex and confrontational lyrics that slap you in the face with an overwhelming sense of futility, as we sing: "...and I'm only trying to make it better. Is there no other way when you're so far away? I feel I'm paralysed."
COG - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Their closing song, written to persuade through emotive lyrics and instrumentation, 'Problem Reaction Solution' is attempting to create and join like-minds in the room. Even if some of the punters political compasses are not so inclined, the camaraderie of the joy of the music itself holds fast and there is a shared elation that remains even when COG conclude their set, leaving us begging for more.
COG truly are a band who attract a special kind fan base – a loyal mob that are as unique and diverse as Australia's landscape with eyes fixed on the musical horizon and ears open to the social and political lyrics on the winds.
Tonight has reminded me why I have such a strong affinity with the live music scene and addiction to live performances – the energy exchange and amity of all who are present. The musical creations of COG just may melt your brain, time and time again, especially when played live and freaking loud.
I reckon a ticket to a COG show should come with the warning label: 'Be prepared to have your mind blown and for the remnants to be a mere trickle from your ears by the end of the show – every damn time!'
More photos from the concert.
