Live Review: The Griswolds, Castlecomer, Sealegs

Central Coast natives and all-round nice guys Sealegs began the festivities with a healthy smattering of surf rock and whirling guitar.

Shimmering percussion was met with gritty bass that amplified lead singer Byron Knight’s stoic yet passionate vocals. Their freshest single, Christopher Strong, displayed crashing drums with tearing guitar that attacked the crowd with tropical tones, lashing tresses and wild vocal work.

Guttural vocals began Castlecomer’s set as the band slowly eased the crowd into a soft choral sound that remained a motif throughout their set. They alternated between pop-fuelled guitar and folk-styled vocals, which made for a pretty yet memorable set. Their rendition of You Can Call Me Al by Paul Simon brought the house down. They then displayed their multi-instrumental talents as each member of the five-piece grabbed a horn instrument and blew the throng’s mind.

The men of the hour, The Griswolds, were nothing short of spectacular. The eager crowd was straining their vocals chords before the band even took the stage and when they did, the Metro erupted to welcome 16 Years. Bassist Tim John created a rippling effect that complemented the sweet yet wailing vocals from Christopher Whitehall.

Sounding like an Australian Foster The People, The Griswolds created their own brand of happiness with songs off their EP, including The Courtship Of Summer Preasley and the track that made everyone fall in love with them, Mississippi. The latter kicked in with such fervour it was hard to ignore the impact it had on the excited crowd. Tropical bass careened throughout the hit while shrill synth from guitarist Daniel Duque-Perez created the perfect backdrop for the tambourine to make a welcomed appearance.

The title track from their new album, Be Impressive, was just that. If You Wanna Stay turned into an anthem as the crowd screamed the lyrics, pounding drums from Lachlan West creating an ecstatic vibe. However, Beware The Dog became the highlight of their electrifying set. The crowd cried out the chorus as if they owed the band money while screaming guitar amplified the energy in the venue, creating a sense of controlled anarchy.

After a modest encore, the band finished off with Down And Out and Heart Of A Lion, leaving the throng sweaty, smiling and completely sated of their hunger for a rock’n’roll show.