Live Review: Northlane, Plini, Sleep Token, alt.

A cold (Shut Up, Melbourne!) Brisbane night did not prevent anyone turning out to Brisbane's old girl, The Tivoli, for the Northlane, Plini, Sleep Token, alt. extravaganza on Saturday 25th June 2022! What a night!

The snaking line-up down Constance street, Fortitude Valley to get in to The Tivoli at the start of the night meant that this reviewer DID only manage to catch the last song from alt., but from what I saw the Adelaide crew, they ripped out a high-energy set. They are a band turning heads here, there and everywhere, so it's unsurprising that when catching up with singer Daniel later, hearing that there is lots of label interest in their next release... which is sick to hear! Congrats on an amazing, albeit speed-bump filled tour run, lads. Well done on responding and acting on what has happened, and rising above and delivering solid AF performances. 

Now, I know that Northlane will be laughing all the way to the bank with people's ticket money on this, but there was a incredibly large amount of people who were saying to me that they bought their ticket tonight PRIMARILY because of Sleep Token. I can't see them having a problem with people turning out early to see a band they specifically chose to put on the bill, AND they get a chance to wow the hell out of them later on. (Frankly, if you left after Sleep Token, joke's on you, the rest of the night was epic.) BUT THAT SAID, Sleep Token were absolutely majestic, epic, arcane, euphoric, and a sight and sound to behold. I heard exclamations of "How is his voice BETTER live?" around me, and people proclaiming their undying love for Vessel. As with every other review from every other show, the only criticism that would have to be said here, is that their set was too short - and that is no criticism of the promoter or line-up this evening, that is how the cookie crumbled, and we were grateful for what we got with Sleep Token. It was without doubt, an almost religious experience, with the entire crowd singing along and moving in unison, as the djenty tones, soft lullabies and harsh, angry screams all worked in concert to create what was a visual and aural feast that everyone lapped up and hoped for more as soon as possible. The six-song set list from Sleep Token was heavy on new album tracks, opening with Alkaline and smashing through Hypnosis, Like That and The Love You Want, with only Higher and The Offering appearing off Sundowning appearing at the end of the set.

Plini took to the stage after Sleep Token and sure, it was a definite change of pace, but the technical prowess on display was phenomenal. It was always going to be a tough one to follow after Sleep Token's frenetic and dynamic performance, but Plini made up for it through sheer skill and technique on display. The people have spoken and they have said: "More rad, unique, intriguing and beguiling guitar work from Plini, please." Pan, Electric Sunrise and Handmade Cities were absolute standouts of a set marked with thunderous applause. 

Photo Credit: Kim Quint

I had seen Northlane most recently at Full Tilt Festival in Brisbane at Eaton's Hill Hotel - and their headline set there was nothing short of WORLD-CLASS. I had figured what I would see on this night was going to be much the same set, figuring that they probably didn't have tonnes of time in between that tour and this to put together an entirely new set, right? WRONG, baby! And of course, as they rolled out more and more of the album tracks from Obsidian... OH YEAH DUH, it's an album tour! 

Photo Credit: Kim Quint

Essentially rolling out the entire album minus only Nova, Inamorata and Dark Solataire, we got a fairly dark EDM heavy set and MANY, MANY heavy as hell moments, lasers, pyros, and so much more. The entire band were firing on all cylinders, seemingly not tired at all after long back-to-back tours and what has been a tour marked with a couple of venue toilet issues that held proceedings up TWICE on the tour? (What the hell?). 

Photo Credit: Kim Quint

What an emphatically beautiful night of incredible music. There was not ONE soul who left the venue NOT completely elated with what they'd just experienced.