Slowly Slowly may be on a 'Forgiving Spree', but their stature and subsequent performance is anything but easily forgotten.
The Melbourne pop-punk, indie rockers have seen a propulsion to fame and notoriety over the last decade, becoming a staple in the Australian alternative scene.The quartet have had a career akin to many a-modern Australian institution; releasing earworm after earworm to their swarm of adoring fans; nearly as regularly as touring and getting up close and personal with them.
However, as of late, local fans have been starved, with over a year since these gents have returned home with exception of a couple of standalone performances. Coinciding with the band's tenth birthday, the promise has been made to 'drop punt' their newest chapter, 'Forgiving Spree', through both intimacy and spectacle; something most adoring fans can easily either remember or imagine.
After primarily experiencing Slowly Slowly in larger arenas, I was intrigued as to what these more intimate moments may entail, however as an aforementioned fan, I can foresee nothing but an impressive evening of live entertainment.
With support from two US heavyweights in their own rights, pop-rock duo Honey Revenge and rockers Grayscale, who only four days ago posted teasing a collab with the evening's main attraction.
Slowly Slowly's Ben Stewart shared the shock of a "little band from Melbourne. . . bringing together an international bill"; and this little band from Melbourne has indeed put together a fantastic bill.
The evening's festivities were kicked off by Grayscale, who immediately captivated the audience with sultry yet upbeat rock & roll tunes. The five piece are a prime example of one of those acts that truly flourishes in a live environment.
In what would be the most atmospheric and restrained set of the evening, the prowess and passion in which these songs were delivered was in and of itself enough to raise the excitement within the room; truly warming the stage for those to come.
Honey Revenge were the next cab off the rank and from the outset, immediately made a new fan in myself. The duo (supported by additional instrumentalists) have such a vigour and swagger to the execution of their catchy, sultry, guitar-driven set list.
Guitarist Donovan Lloyd is a sheer spectacle; swooning and dancing across the stage with a vibrant and glittery guitar in tow, alongside some impressively swirling pants. Not to be outdone by vocalist Devin Papadol, who delivers belting note after belting note, drawing the enthusiastic patronage ever closer, sharing some fantastic pop-punk moments.
This incredibly young act surely has a fantastic future in front of them. If this is what they're capable of only four years into their career, then I cannot wait to see what they achieve by the time they hit their respective decade.
The familiar walls of The Fortitude Music Hall were filled to capacity, resonating with a busy bustle and excitement as the stage darkens and house lights lower. Within moments, illumination bursts and filters through piercing the darkness of this full room as an eruption of cheers and shouts pierce "Blueprint" as the Victorians emerge in all of their glory.
Wasting no time in delivering on their promise, there is an immediate spectacle materialised with energy, gusto, and bravado, as the energy immediately kicks up a notch or three.
While not a calm evening to this point, fans up the ante with vigour and vibe including a sing-along 'How Are You Mine?'. To a diehard fanbase such as this, most (if not all) moments of most (if not all) songs are monumental in their significance.
Unsurprisingly, the majority of the band's set list is derived from the tour's namesake, however there are still moments touching on past eras of the band, with several songs from 'Daisy Chain', such as the title track and 'Longshot'.
There are even a couple from 'Race Car Blues' and 'St. Leonards'. However, tonight (and by all reports, this tour as a whole), the star of the show truly is their new album and with the quality within its proverbial pages.
Stewart (vocals and guitar) is known for his quirky, eloquent and poignant lyricism, and the fifth studio album showcases to an oh-so-familiar degree. Tracks like 'Born Free' and 'Love Letters' – while very different in cadence, direction and style – continue to showcase the ability to induce emotion through each instrument in its own right.
From soft strums to soaring guitar riffs and solos, with or without a grooving rhythm section, crowned by the ever-present croon and wail synonymous with their defined sound echos clever rhyme and metaphor; Slowly Slowly deliver bangers that have you wiping a tear from the corner of your eye while your feet are off the ground.
Over the course of the evening, punters are treated to not only the high emotion this act delivers their crowd-pleasing tunes, but an accompanying high energy in its execution.
While these guys might be on the softer-side of the alternative scene, it is undeniable there is a deep connection between their ethos and the generalised sentiment of the alternative and underground scenes within this beautiful country of ours.
More than sheer power or finesse in musical execution, there is an array of the tried and true stage moves akin to near-all rock & rollers. High kicks, soaring leaps and spinning bodies atop unrelenting bopping and banging of heads exemplify the desired reciprocated actions from attendees. It is impossible to not be infected with the melancholic energy and cathartic release that is the presence of these artists.
While unsurprising, fans are treated to a three-song encore after a respectable set encompassing a wide array of their would-be classics. As a witness of many-a-encore in my day, Slowly Slowly have arguably reached a higher than expected personal preference ranking returning to the stage to play 'God' (quite possibly the highlight of the evening for this reviewer), 'Jellyfish' and 'Race Car Blues'.
While empirical data is lacking, I have a strong belief that all those present who were able to lift their hands and feet spent seconds at best with them planted over this short stint.
Already winning me over many-a-moon ago as a strong contributor (albeit on the softer side) of the alternate festival scene, I'm now convinced their talent, capability, and grit are deserving of their own accolades; and truth be told, I'm incredibly late to this party.
