Hidden away in a cool, dark, hangar in Newstead is the main stage of The Triffid. This was certainly the place to be on Thursday night, 19 January for the third instalment of Get Wise to Your New Favourite Band.
Opening the night were five-piece, alternative blues/folk rockers, Fugitive & the Vagabond. With a sound reminiscent of Nick Cave, The Doors, Paul Kelly and Bob Dylan, the band featured eerie keys, rocking lead solos, solid drum and bass grooves, and Jordan Merrick’s rich and gravelly voice. With the signature, lush sound of The Triffid, the fullness and intricacies of the arrangements painted a delightfully menacing feeling at times. The set had the crowd swaying along and featured tracks from their 2016 album Novella along with a new tune. Stand out tracks included Time Travellin’ Blues and Jack Cocaine and Suzie Lee.
Keeping the crowd buzzing were four-piece rock and rollers, Port Royal. An enthusiastic crowd rushed the stage before they could start. Sounding a little like Franz Ferdinand and a little like The Rolling Stones, Port Royal had a solid, catchy, rock sound wrapped up in a pop sensibility which they delivered with a hint of Mick Jagger swagger. The crowd was enthusiastically dancing and singing along to their tracks Hey You which included a drum feature that brought the house down, a slower track Lucille that had the lovers embracing, and the standout track Dirty Boy which recently received #30 in the 4ZZZ Hot 100.
Closing out the night were four piece Belrose. Clearly influenced by Thirsty Merc, the band delivered a funky and energetic set that had the crowd dancing and clapping along. With stand-out vocals and killer guitar solos supported by tight arrangements, Belrose’s set included tracks from their 2016 EP including their recent single The Ballad. A super sweet moment occurred when the final song for the evening was dedicated to front man, Jayden Lynch’s mother, who was in attendance, garnering her a huge crowd reaction.
This show had a diverse, yet well-suited line up of bands to keep your eyes on. Held in one of Brisbane’s premier live music venues, an entertaining evening was enjoyed by a large and enthusiastic crowd.
