Live Review: King Krule, Emerson Snowe

7 March 2018 | 9:45 am | Taylor Marshall

"Bassist James Wilson menacingly howls the first line, 'DUMB SURFER IS GIVING ME HIS CASH,' and the crowd erupts into a full-scale dance pit."

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There seems to be no rush to occupy The Triffid on this rainy Tuesday, but as Emerson Snowe, the persona of Brisbane native Jarrod Mahon, takes the stage with nothing but a microphone and a set of backing tracks an instant crowd gathers, proving once again that sold-out shows at The Triffid always bring in early-bird fans to catch a glimpse of the opening act. It's a fun and simple set. As Emerson delves into a cover of The Replacements' Androgynous, there's a small amount of punters singing along.

After playing a few tracks, Snowe announces a brief intermission for the crowd to chat amongst themselves as he begins to gently sway into the second half of his set. He dedicates a brand new, unreleased track to his girlfriend in Paris. Finally ending with his track If I Die, Then I Die, the entirety of the venue is left amazed by this raw local talent and is now prepared for the royalty about to take the stage.

There's a premature chant for Archy Marshall, as the crowd is clearly overhyped for England's insanely prominent jazz/indie-rock prodigy King Krule. The lights dim and, as Marshall and the King Krule band make their way onto the stage, there isn't a single thing that can be heard above the deafening roar of the crowd. After a massive build-up, Marshall screams the opening line of Has This Hit? and there's nothing but captivation, a spectacle of lights blinding the audience as each note is plucked throughout this song.

The King himself (Marshall) takes some time to greet the crowd, his warm voice booming out a lengthy, "Brisbane, hey, this next song is from The Ooz," before a portion of the fans instantaneously echo his accent by chanting, "The Ooz".

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There's an overflow of joy as the familiar intro of Dum Surfer kicks in. Bassist James Wilson menacingly howls the first line, "DUMB SURFER IS GIVING ME HIS CASH," and the crowd erupts into a full-scale dance pit. Calling out every lyric with Marshall and Wilson, the audience and band are completely in sync.

Amid his set, Marshall pays homage to the beautiful ex-aircraft hanger by stating he loves both the venue and aeroplanes. After announcing his next track is about lizards, the saxophone kicks in for A Lizard State, and once again there isn't a single person not grooving as Marshall drives into the wild and unpredictable track.

Continuing his set with The Locomotive, Rock Bottom and incredible track about healthcare, Emergency Blimp, the venue once again illuminates thanks to green and blue strobes.

It gets near the end of the night, and the band seem to almost disappear within a cloud of smoke and dim blue lights as both the crowd and band sing the almost-lullaby track Baby Blue. It's a warm song that's filled with underlying cold emotion - an absolute marvel of musical beauty.

Even though the band close with Easy Easy, there's an uproar for an encore. Sure enough, the band slowly make their way back onto the stage for Out Getting Ribs and once again there's a synchronised union between Marshall and the audience. It's the perfect way to end a set. King Krule do not disappoint.