Live Review: The Butterfly Effect, Sleep Parade, Teal

There is no doubt that every punter at The Annandale Hotel on Saturday night was there to see one person and one person only: The Butterfly Effect's new lead singer. Like it or not, there's no denying a frontman can make or break a band.

In the case of opening act Teal, that frontman displays an amazing natural talent. His impressive falsetto was the perfect vehicle for the band's dramatic and theatrical sound. The man out the front of Sleep Parade is all about the performance, known for his confident, almost flamboyant style.

Then there is the frontman who has it all: an incredible vocal range, self-assured performance, the ability to throw himself around the stage one minute and deliver a tear-inducing moment the next, all while holding us in the palm of his hand. The Butterfly Effect's long-time lead singer Clint Boge had all that and more but as was revealed so publicly through their recent documentary, that voice began to struggle and apparently he had to go.

Symbolically The Butterfly Effect walked on stage to the intro of Begins Here. New singer Paul Gallagher was formally introduced and the audience started chanting his name. It was a surprisingly embracing welcome by a crowd who received every song with genuine enthusiasm.

Gallagher experienced technical difficulties from the start that took several songs to be resolved. It was obvious he favours the use of an effect on his voice, which seemed unnecessary as he is a strong singer. He moved comfortably from favourites like Filling Silence to One Second, Perception Twin and Crave.  There were however times when it was difficult to watch Gallagher deliver the songs that Boge had lived, written and made his own. Gallagher definitely appeared most comfortable performing their three new songs, which each had a classic hard rock feel, Eyes Down being the highlight.

The biggest thing lacking from Gallagher's performance was just that – performance. There was no emotion, no personality, no sense he had made the songs his own.  There were suggestions that a new The Butterfly Effect album may be on the horizon. There's no doubt the audience enjoyed themselves on Saturday night but it will be interesting to see if, after satisfying their curiosity, they will return for another taste.