Live Review: Enter Reality, Lights Over Berlin, Via Alchemy, Cam Ellis - Lewisham Hotel

The thrill of the new is as seductive as ever, with all of the hit-or-miss potential that entails, and a band’s first gig outside of the garage certainly offers that in spades.

On stage at the Lewisham Hotel the miss could be counted as the band that didn’t just pull out of the opening support slot two days prior; they broke up, leaving Lights Over Berlin guitarist Cam Ellis to break out the acoustic guitar and warm the room.

Ellis’ brief four-number set featured three covers – Tears In Heaven (Eric Clapton), Why Georgia (John Mayer) and Neon (Mayer again) – and a self-penned original, Fury. On show was plenty of intricate finger-picking, some nice textures and a vocal sound that is eerily reminiscent of Daniel Johns at that age. Mix all of that in with the odd good-natured “John Mayer” sledge from bandmates and it’s an easy way to spend half an hour.

Despite three out of four members of Perth-based rock band, Lights Over Berlin, succumbing to illness, they managed to keep it together.

I don’t think it’s wrong to say that at present Via Alchemy are probably best known as ‘ex-Tame Impala drummer Sam Devonport’s brand new project’, being the band getting through the aforementioned first gig. Clearly time in the rehearsal studio has been well spent if the solid performance they served up is any indication. Theirs is a sound that blends a bit of ‘70s surf guitar shimmer, some prog bombast and nice rock beats and licks. Written down like this it does seem an improbable combination but it works.

What they might want to consider for future gigs is shaving a few minutes off a couple of numbers or focusing less on the textures and adding more hooks to stop the punters’ attention drifting too far away.

Despite three out of four members of Perth-based rock band, Lights Over Berlin, succumbing to illness, they managed to keep it together and crank a respectable first show on their first-ever east coast tour. These guys keep it light: a bit of rock, a bit of pop-punk, some big moody elements and a sense of humour if the inclusion of Teenage Dirtbag – “Singalong! You know you know the words” – in the setlist is any indication.

The band put on a tight, well presented show that demonstrated nuance in the tunes and a sense of pacing on stage, with closing number, Messages, nudging big November Rain arrangements turf.

It’s easy to tell why metal meisters Enter Reality have been getting such good word of mouth of late. The accomplished outfit led by vocalist Rachel Holden were by far the heaviest outfit on the bill, rolling out a set loaded with thunder, plenty of grunt, great songwriting and studded with sinister undertones: one to watch.