Sunday, July 8, 2012

Karnivool at The Hifi Bar and Ballroom

Band: Karnivool
Venue: The Hifi Bar and Ballroom
Date: 5th July 2012
Reviewed By: Lyn Geisel


Karnivool know how to bring fans out of their warm cosy beds and down into the depths of the Hi Fi Bar & Ballroom on a cold winters night. I finally accepted that the main band weren’t going to start until about 11pm on a school night (all times were completely out from their answering machine message) so down into the main room I went, watched by the tired eyes of punters along the way.

Redcoats were just starting as I found my way into the already packed room and into a snug void I watched, as the four piece Melbourne band took to stage and although my senses weren’t captivated initially, I soon discovered with perhaps a new listening ear after the second song, that the singer’s voice was a little on the same page as Chris Cornell in sound and together there was almost a Led Zep style. I say almost because even though the band is talented and the singer has a unique style of vocals, for me I wasn’t convinced that together they fit. Don’t get me wrong, talented bunch of blokes!

So, a half hour wait, then the lights dim, the crowd roars and after a bit more of a wait then the smoke teases us, the lights tease us some more by flickering, the crowd start cheering ‘Karnivool” and finally they arrive. Ian looking less rock than other members who don the traditional black except drummer, Steve Judds, who only had pants on and let’s just say bless him for that! Into The Refusal they cruise giving way for the next tune, Goliath, which fused with a top lighting show. Ian welcomes us to the tour and into Deadman he sings, before Simple Boy starts with lush guitar from Andrew ‘Drew’ Goddard and the keyboard added a nice level to the song. C.O.T.E (Centre of the Earth) is a fave of mine and the head banging in the audience demonstrates how loved this song is. The blue lights on stage is reminiscent of being underwater for the new song as Ian takes the stage like a praying mantis and then into All I Know and hecklers take on Ian after this song and bring  laughter into the room. Jon Stockman knows how to work the bass and did I mention Steve Judd on drums giving us girls some new lease on life and perhaps the blokes feeling like they’d better hit the gym in the morning! ( I may have mentioned him….) Mark Hosking brings the band together on guitar and vocals and together all five members make the sweet music that is Karnivool. Roquefort and the unbelievable Themata bring the crowds on its toes and lucky last is New Day before we all pile out the door and head into the cold cold early morning of Friday in Melbourne and realise that work isn’t so far away, but to hell with that, we all saw one amazing Perth based band sink their vocal chords, fingers and feet into a solid performance tonight. Talented musicians who can grace the stage night and night and give it their all are few and far between and these boys show us how its done. How many of you are going again tonight I wonder?!

as read on www.theaureview.com