Last Saturday (27 November) at Brisbane's Tomcat, Patient Lounge launched their new single 'Treehouse', with support from fellow locals Torizon and Winchester Revival.
As I grab a cold bevvie and chat with my mates, it's not long before ferocious rockers Winchester Revival, tonight's first act, step up on stage.Winchester Revival are a sumptuous and ferocious appetiser that is wetting our whistles good and proper with a sound and a presence that is anything but meagre.
Punters who were standing towards the back of the floor move in after the first song to join the front row fan club and get their mosh on especially halfway through the set when we are treated with a glorious guitar solo.
Winchester Revival - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Winchester Revival gave us a six-pack of songs starting with 'Reborn, Reformed, Revived'; they even threw us a cover of Joan Jett's 'I Love Rock 'n Roll' - ha! What a super tasty audible and visual delight.
These infectious humans are laying out their sumptuous tunes with good ol' vintage rock & roll with moves styled on Kiss and Gunners. They are even slathering it on thick with a few tracks that bend it more on the heavy rock side.
Alternative heavy rockers, Torizon don't make us wait long before taking the stage opening with 'Hey You' ahead of a favourite 'Find My Way Out' – a song about manipulation and getting the heck out of that predicament because you're worth it.
Vocalist Misha Sharma is in fine form tonight dominating the stage, stalking while singing to the many fans in a mosh frenzy who have now filled the floor.
Not surprisingly, Torizon fans find the spaces among the crowd as the floor fills to receive the vibrations that will blast the heavy genres layered through Torizon's set. I get among the punters who are soon moshing or swaying to the atmospheric rocking metal.
Torizon - image © Clea-marie Thorne
As we listen to the prowess of Misha's pipes putting out emotive melodies with heavy inflections, the four-piece are superbly executing their set list.
Tonight's songs include 'Immerse', a tuneful song and I just love the way Misha change it up to be a bit brighter on this one. We also experience 'Oceans' live – it's a newie that is also big on melodic groove with a powerfully emotive arrangement that is well worth checking out.
I must mention 'Burning Away' that followed – their heavy hitter that speaks of recent and current issues – Sarah Allen (guitar), Aaron Hose (drums) and Max Coop (bass) really levelled it up and pushed it to bring this one home to the crowd - this is without a doubt a favourite of the night.
More photos from the show.
The moment has arrived, and Patient Lounge energetically take ownership of the Tomcat stage. Opening with 'Vision' snapped the heads of the buzzing crowd front and forward!
The raw yet rich timbre of Zach Eather's vocals is divine on their next song 'Sacred', which I later note is dishing up my favourite bit of deep bass for the night – thanks Lucas Montgomery (bass player).
Patient Lounge - image © Clea-marie Thorne
'New Man' is clearly a punter favourite to sing-along to – this song has a dynamism across heavy beats, rock-solid riffing, thumping bass energy and insanely intense vocals. What came next? For me, an unexpected cover of John Farnham's 'You're The Voice'! Punters seemed to get off on this one too.
The band is now unleashing more electricity in the air as they unbridle 'Treehouse'; we are witnessing first-hand not only their ability to perform live as cohesive musicians but a live demonstration of their musical diversity that enables them to create cocktails of perfectly blended music genres.
Patient Lounge - image © Clea-marie Thorne
'Treehouse' is chill yet complex, atmospheric yet tangible and relatable. I think this will need a few listens to discover the depths of its composition and I guarantee it'll be on the set list for years to come as a punter fave.
Throughout the set Eather is energetic and commands attention with his extra wide and low power-stances while throwing his pipes and smashing on the strings. The room channels his energy, and that's not saying that Montgomery and Eric Moors (lead guitar) aren't contributing to the dynamism in the room that builds and maintains the momentum of the night.
I also have to mention drummer Nick Keogh-Peel who is pulsating kick-hard hits into my chest from up back on the tubs while some of the songs have his timing close to inducing an irregular heartbeat. Move over Danny Carey!
Patient Lounge - image © Clea-marie Thorne
While dense with bass, definitely prog but with an air of jazz, 'Places' was next and I didn't need a crystal ball to know that Moors would get to shine for his fans. On cue, the crowd reaction is getting a bit nuts for him as he skilfully plays with tasty precision, supported by a tight rhythm section and Eather belting out the vocals.
The rest of the set included 'Vaporise', 'Lucy', 'Funky', 'BEGDA' and my other personal favourite – yes, it too has a jazz flavour 'All You Want'.
All three bands gave it hard, gave it loud and rocked it more than just alright. Now isn't that awesome bang for your buck, or what?
