Californian post-hardcore crooners Dayseeker have returned to the land down under, reigniting fans' passion with their sweeping soundscapes, soaring crescendos, and thick riffs.
Last in Australia in 2022, Dayseeker have graced our shores once again in support of their 2022 record, 'Dark Sun'.Unfortunately, Welsh rock outfit Casey – a personal favourite of mine – was unable to join the tour as originally planned. However, with support from Sydney's own Inertia and Reliqa, Dayseeker added fan-favourite Landon Tewers, guaranteeing to please their dedicated fanbase.
Sadly for Reliqa fans, vocalist Monique Pym succumbed to the all-too-familiar winter chill and was unable to perform. Despite this setback, the show must go on.
Reliqa took to the stage as a three-piece to perform an instrumental set. Without missing a beat, the trio delivered their unique blend of technical riffs over thick rhythms, reminiscent of sounds like Born of Osiris.
While undeniably missing a key piece in Monique, their dedication to their craft did not go unnoticed as eager fans embraced the last-minute change and turned out in droves to support.
Reliqa - image © Clea-marie Thorne
The atmosphere was ecstatic as a packed Tivoli prepared for the raunchy serenading of Landon Tewers – if such a juxtaposition is possible.
The solo project of The Plot In You's vocalist has long flown under the radar. However, as a long-time fan of Tewers, I can attest to his captivating songwriting, swooning vocals, and rambunctious delivery. Tewers and his band played a diverse collection of tracks, ranging from the most recent single, 'Show Up', to 2016's 'Dynamite'.
As a long-time fan, the opportunity to witness and embrace performances of songs like 'Sick Obsession', 'She Thinks Of Me', and 'Need To Change' was a dream come true, evident from the absolutely packed Tivoli.
In the age of baddiecore, Tewers deserves recognition for pushing the envelope and setting the tone for the current state of affairs. Closing out his set with a rare heavy tone, the transition to headliners Dayseeker was smooth, clean, and exciting.
Landon Tewers - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Sporting formal attire, the Dayseeker unit took to the stage to an absolutely packed, ecstatic, and eager crowd. The quartet has seen a rise to fame, arguably due to the success of their anthemic 2019 release, 'Sleeptalk'.
Dayseeker has grown an almost cult-following of fans globally, with Australia (and Brisbane specifically) being no exception. The seemingly overnight success of this Orange County group is the culmination of over a decade of dedication.
Consistently releasing music of exceptional calibre and supporting these endeavours with a strong touring schedule, the group has refined their sound, style, and execution to truly be a headline act in their own right.
Dayseeker - image © Clea-marie Thorne
For the uninitiated, Dayseeker has crafted their sound to showcase vocalist Rory Rodriguez's phenomenal talent. The quartet creates vast and sweeping soundscapes, allowing space for Rodriguez's vocals to flourish.
Ironically, this space was all but taken by diehard fans singing at the top of their lungs, particularly during fan favourites like 'Without Me' and 'Crying While You're Dancing'.
Closing out their set with 'Sleeptalk', I couldn’t help but feel slightly undercut by not hearing 'Neon Grave', which, luckily, was included in their baker's dozen set list.
Dayseeker - image © Clea-marie Thorne
For a band that has defined their sound around a refined post-hardcore/ rock genre, one cannot help but find comparisons in some of their more guitar-centric songs to earlier Northlane.
Continuing to follow Dayseeker as they inevitably grow, evolve, and progress is an easy decision. If their progression to date is indicative of where they may head in the future, there truly are no limits to what may come from this incredibly talented group.
More photos from the concert.
