Live Review: Glitoris, Being Jane Lane, WHALEHOUSE

It’s a Sunday night in West End and Boundary Street is assuredly quiet, but the supporters of independent music have turned up in full force for theatrical punk quartet Glitoris to launch their debut album at The Bearded Lady.

Opening are the undeniable WHALEHOUSE, an act who have solidified themselves as the highest energy trio in Brisbane and potentially the whole country. Opening with cowbell-driven Plant Power, the trio are dressed in one of their most daring stage costumes, riding the line between an almost wrestler-like attire and standard punk style. The biggest surprise of the set is a brand new unnamed track with lyrics about the wonders of the ocean, and the merits of its protection, floating over solo guitar with the gorgeous voice of guitar lord Amy-Rose Lawson.

While WHALEHOUSE bring the fun to any show they play, Being Jane Lane bring sheer attitude, with frontwoman Teigan Le Plastrier destroying tinnies and jumping in the crowd before ten minutes pass by. With classic punk sensibilities and serious smiles on their face, the backroom becomes very packed, very fast. Set highlight Sailboat gives us one of the many guitar shredding moments from guitarist Phoebe "PB" Chim.

Finally though, it’s time for Canberra theatrical punks Glitoris and you would be hard-pressed to miss them. They strut on stage with costumes that wouldn’t look out of place at a TISM gig; bright silver bodysuits and winged eyebrows aplenty (glitter as well, of course). Having only recently been on Brisbane shores supporting Regurgitator, the Brisbane love is obvious as the room reaches capacity. Their set goes through varying degrees of distortion, from the power metal riffage of Spit Hood to a more classic punk drive with Dippin My Wick. But it’s the vocal harmonies that really blew us away, often times all four members flexing their musically trained muscle with precise melodies that wouldn’t be out of place at QPAC. Cock Rock offers a comical and heavy break in the set, before lead guitarist Andrew delivers a short prologue vaudeville piece and lyrical spat about their “real London accent, you journalist cunts”. Closing the set with the empowering and epic Slut Power, the 45-minute Glitoris experience is a well-polished machine. Each member is a well-versed pro in their own right, but it may be the bass player Malcolm who stands above, grooving away with bass lines and energy that give Flea a run for his money.