With fans and band members from opening acts climbing onto tall amps to dive, or just running at the crowd, events quickly escalate to the point where the boys need to ask if everyone is okay...
Two of Velociraptor's 12 members are absent tonight, which is lucky, as it seems unlikely any more people could fit on the stage. The crowd is quickly won over by the charm and energy of front-man Jeremy Neale in tracks The Walk On By and Cynthia, and it's not long before Neale demands beers be brought to the stage. The group share a toast; they're an act which typifies the general tone of the evening – mateship, drinking and reckless behaviour. With band members switching instruments, climbing on amps and seducing the crowd with inspired stage antics, Velociraptor are able to exhibit the beautiful chaos that is lost in their recorded work.
Sporting significantly fewer numbers, Gold Coast trio Bleeding Knees Club are next to hit the stage, but it does not detract from the impact of their sound. What they lack in the stage antics department is compensated with foul-mouthed banter, which amps the crowd up even more. Calling a female member of the audience “Boob Slut” in tribute to their song Beach Slut is just one of the many delights to part the lips of front-man Alex Wall throughout the set. The boys keep the crowd entertained with short, snappy punk riffs that are impossible not to jump around to, and, while many of their songs start to sound the same after a while, the audience is not fazed; in fact they become rowdier as the set goes on.
The party kicks up a notch when ARIA award winning DZ Deathrays command the stage, opening with Dollar Chills. The tone changes and the audience seemingly become possessed; moving in unity to the thunderous sound of the hometown heroes. This is where The Rev proves itself as the perfect venue, as it creates the feeling of one of the best house parties you've ever been to, with the option of sitting and watching from upstairs, or living it large in the mosh pit below. Punters crash the stage throughout the entirety of the set, and the stage diving is magnificent. With fans and band members from opening acts climbing onto tall amps to dive, or just running at the crowd, events quickly escalate to the point where the boys need to ask if everyone is okay; pure rock n' roll.
Possibly because it is a school night, a fair portion of the audience leave after DZ's performance; to their own detriment, as Yacht Club DJs close the night with a banging mash-up set. The loose, party vibe the boys create seems to unleash the inner-crazy in the audience, with several costumed party-goers popping up in the mix, and the crowd surfing continuing. The ever-impressive mix of nostalgic, pop, rock, and hip hop party tunes, proves Yacht Club DJs have cottoned on to a winning formula, acting as a perfect end to one of the most unforgettable parties Brisbane has seen for quite some time.
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