Live Review: LUNG, Cirrus Crown, Flynn Effect, Little Rituals

It is the first really nippy evening of post-summer Melbourne, but a solid, sturdy band of rock-loving souls still show up to The Bendigo tonight, itching to feast their ears on some excellent local sounds.

And feast they do. Openers Little Rituals have an interesting sound and approach. Their modern alt-rock songs are relentlessly melodic and uptempo and feature nice bluesy lead guitar lines, strong grooving bass and sweet, sometimes Buckley-influenced vocals. In fact, the vocals are so very strong and compelling that the frontman of Cirrus Crown mentions it, two sets later. Despite some rather irritating, for band and audience, bass guitar issues plaguing their set from around the midpoint onwards, Little Rituals put on a very entertaining set that begins to warm the cockles of the still cool under the collar crowd. 

Brightly coloured LED lights are the order of the night for former Brissie, now Melbourne-based outfit, Flynn Effect. Alt-rock emanates from guitar, bass guitar and frontwoman Tomina Vincent, tonight rocking almost foot-high platform boots. Experiencing similar sound issues as did Little Rituals, which this time render both bass and guitar a little non-threatening for a portion of the set, the band rise above technical problems and smash their set out of the park. They treat us to a brand new tune, which turns out to be probably the best song of their set. It is gothic '80s pop with a big, moody, dramatic chorus, sung beautifully by Vincent. If this is the direction this band are headed, then they are absolutely worth keeping an eye and an ear on in the coming few years.

Cirrus Crown are virtually a brand new band. Forming just last year, this is only their second ever show. They are somewhat of a local supergroup, featuring members of such local luminaries as Sydonia, Acolyte, Fading Hour, Fear Is A Liar and others, and when you have such a pedigree of gig-hardened players and performers in your band, greenness is less of an issue. They come on to much fanfare, and their Karnivool and Dead Letter Circus-influenced progressive alternative sound and live performance back it up. Their set is a highly dynamic 40-minute ride, taking the audience on a journey filled with charging, high-energy intensity interspersed with moments of heady atmosphere. The musicianship is tight and dextrous and the vocals soar. The songs are powerful and memorable. 

Although there are moments when it’s clear that this band are still developing their confidence, signature sound and performance, the potential here is enormous.

LUNG are the type of band that bobs up once every year or two, plays a one-off show and then disappear into the rock‘n’roll ether again. The thing about this is, when they do surface, the show is always memorable. The reasons for this are many. One, their ‘three-piece with frontman’ sound is always enormous - the rolling, propulsive grooves and riffage always a highlight. Two, their songs are strong and stand the test of time (especially The Forewarned, which appeared on their EP Parasympathy from way back in 2013). Three, the pure Aussie larrikin style of frontman Liam Burke. Only certain frontpeople can get away with this style of onstage banter, and he is one of them. Four, this gig might have to tide you over for another two years before they play again. 

Four local bands, four ripping sets, and the gleefully dingy Bendigo is a happy place indeed.