Brisbane is alive this Friday night (24 June), with people out and about to get to their entertainment destinations.
My choice of post-work entertainment is of course live music, which has me making a mad dash to the stunning, heritage-listed Princess Theatre to see Brisbane's beloved Screamfeeder perform their tour finale, launching their latest album 'Five Rooms'.Mouse are a band whose members hail from Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast areas. They're the opening band tonight and there are three of them now taking the stage – Mouse are usually a four-piece.
Kate (guitar, vocals) tells us that the panda onstage is there repping their unwell lead singer, who couldn't make it tonight and how she has the job of actually doing the singing for us. That panda, what a cute gesture. Rock & roll baby, rock & roll!
Mouse - image © Clea-marie Thorne
So if Kate was nervous about taking on lead vocals, it's totally not showing. This young band crank in with 'Exist In Me' and you wouldn't know they're not usually a three-piece. They're winning fans in the crowd with their indie-punk, rock grunge that is pouring out to the gathering crowd.
Next song is 'Pinned To An Avalanche’ that has a quiet and melodic intro before it smashes in with a '90s summer feel not unlike Screamfeeder melded with Sonic Youth. They have got it going on up there and many punters are nodding along.
Next track 'Puck' has a slow intro ahead of guitar and drums reeling in kicking and screaming heavy vibes all the way to the end. Mouse give us four more songs and tell us how they adore Screamfeeder – yes, they're preaching to the converted, but it's great their generation are digging what we have been loving for years.
Mouse - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Closing out with 'Kill Yr Stepdad' that ends with the guitarist and bass player on the stage floor before Kate sets about smashing the token panda bear off his stool in a true rock & roll exit.
Stalking so elegantly on to the stage next is Adalita. In a long sleeved, deep blue velvet skater dress Adalita comes to a halt at the mic stand front and centre stage and absorbed the cheers from the crowd with a sultry smile.
Adalita - image © Clea-marie Thorne
This is a softer set than I have seen from Adalita and a more subdued Adalita. I mean compared to the last three or four times I've seen her onstage with Magic Dirt, the Sticky Fingers tribute tour or with Tex Perkins.
We are getting the gift of her solo music tonight, including 'I Want Your Love' and 'Hot Air'. Adalita also gives Mouse a great rap and she's letting the crowd know how freaking awesome it has been touring with Screamfeeder and that she loved the road-tripping – with the exception of flying in from Melbourne tonight.
Adalita tells us the new songs on her set (some which date back to 2014) will be coming out soon and we won't know if she's f...ing them up tonight. Ha! We are told to listen hard, as she sings us a song about loving someone and it's not mutual.
Adalita - image © Clea-marie Thorne
'Equations' gets a great crowd response. My favourites from tonight are the lilting vocals of 'Perfection' and of course, she is always going to woo a crowd with 'Trust Is Rust' from her second album.
After declaring a love for Brisbane, Adalita cheekily tells us she has "some 7-inch thingies at the merch stand". . . Of course it's vinyl!
A few stragglers arrive just in time see headliners Screamfeeder enter the stage, making sure they're not 'Late To The Party' as the band play this from their new album.
Screamfeeder - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Punters are nodding and bouncing. There is a most friendly atmosphere among the crowd tonight. We are lapping up the new music and 'Above The Dove' and 'Day Crew' with big cheers.
Like speaking to a bunch of family or close friends, Kellie Lloyd is telling us they're still learning their new songs. Well, the likes of 'Don't Get Me Started' and later 'Deirdre' from 'Five Rooms' sounded tight to my untrained ear – I'm loving these songs played live.
Some bands change things up just for the sake of it – I love that Screamfeeder can do this on their albums but also in keeping with their signature formula that makes us fall in love with their music, over and over again. So of course why would they deviate? 'Five Rooms' is getting a banging reception tonight.
Screamfeeder - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Tim Steward is bundle of energy bouncing up and down like he has had way too much caffeine (I don't even know if he drinks it). It's as if he's challenging himself as he plays their older bangers with his eyes closed, bobbing up and down on the spot – and he's nailing it, I might add.
As much as we're welcoming the new it is the well-loved, often played songs of the set list that are so damn infectious nearly everyone in the room is singing along elatedly and many of us are having a dance too. These songs are 'Dart', 'Hi C's', 'Fingers And Toes' and 'Pattern Form'. My musical heart hugs them like old friends.
Lloyd with her sweet, summery vocals and staunch bass playing always puts a smile on my dial – she's been one of the cool chicks of the Brisbane music scene for like forever and hasn't lost one ounce of groove!
Screamfeeder - image © Clea-marie Thorne
When I saw Screamfeeder here at the Princess earlier this year supporting Regurgitator, they told us when they'd be back at the venue for the Brisbane leg of their 'Five Rooms' tour that rock royalty Ben Ely may just make a guest bass appearance. Well he's doing that right freaking now!
Boy are we all having fun in the room for this. Ben is banging out on his Rickenbacker, Kelly has taken to smashing it up on keys instead of her four strings and Tim is still clearly stimulated on the high of performing, holding steady belting it out on the mic with Usher and Mudge staying in place. It's over and Ely exits with hugs and high fives.
Screamfeeder with Ben Ely - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Another special treat tonight is Adalita being welcomed back on stage to join Screamfeeder. Fans can feel the instant vibe of warm camaraderie and I reckon there's a mutual girl-crush going on with Lloyd and Adalita.
Adalita takes the lead vocals for 'Wrote You Off'. I am loving this, fans are loving this! I have the warm fuzzies and the vibe in the place is electric!
There's something special when an intimate crowd gets a triple treat. I mean not only are we experiencing the live performances of their brilliant new album, but we get to see the headliners jam out with two favourite artists.
Screamfeeder with Adalita - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Screamfeeder are a timeless band whose raw energy and melodic rock & roll vibe delivered with soul and dedication never goes out of style.
Tonight their grungy instrumentation and shifting melodic vocals, playing with the seasoned finesse of talented artists has us bopping, dancing and swaying along to their rhythms and grooves – they have commanded our full attention throughout the set, just by being themselves.
Screamfeeder - image © Clea-marie Thorne
More photos from the show.
