Live Review: New Empire, The Soorley, Yetis - Factory Theatre

Factory Theatre was ironically bright, youthful and positive on Friday the 13th as the crowd came to see three local bands from different areas of NSW.

First up were Yetis, a four-piece from the south coast. Complete with banjo and violin this band set a mellow, soothing mood to start the night. Jenna Smith transitioned expertly from vocals to keys to violin, and the harmonies were a highlight in a band that appears to be pushing the right buttons if you're a Bon Iver or Edward Sharpe fan.

Novocastrians, The Soorleys, took to the stage next, or should I say, took over the stage. No less than eight members literally filled the stage with their uplifting and infectious brand of indie pop with a touch of country thrown in. You wouldn't have been out of place with a hat and spurred boots, as lead singer, Beth, mentioned during the show. 

Judging by the number of people sitting on the floor of the theatre during the support acts (who does that?), the band they all wanted to see were the boys from 'The Shire', New Empire. They hit the stage with Tale Of Jonah, the first song from their new album, In A Breath. Lead singer, Jeremy Fowler, had the crowd in the palm of his hand as his vocals warmed the room. The band played all of the tracks from their new album, but threw in a few old ones to a decided 'pop' from the audience. One Heart/A Million Voices drew the biggest reaction and stood out as the band's hit of the night. New Empire nail the quiet intro, build to a loud finale technique well, with Left Behind and Fallen Soldiers being perfect examples, but interest waned during the quiet tunes such as Wise Fox and Ghosts.

The night ended with an encore of their title track, In A Breath, and the crowd reacted favourably although respectfully. New Empire are definitely attracted to a certain demographic and may not suit the grungier rock venues, but on this Black Friday they brought a lot of smiles to their fans.