Live Review: Rolo Tomassi, Safe Hands, Stockades, Plainview

Well, it's that time of the year. A Brisbane summer officially starts the first time you go out to a punk show and simply standing there makes you sweat profusely. It's probably going to be a long and hot one this summer, and if that's bumming out the crowd in Sun Distortion, well, there's England's Rolo Tomassi on hand to lift spirits. Angular riff crew Plainview open proceedings tonight, and their tunes are cool enough to beat the godawful heat. With the heady intent of post-rock, the five-piece's punk finds an interesting compromise between intensity and introversion.

Next up Melbourne's Stockades offer up more noodly, modern post-hardcore. The band's been getting plenty of recognition lately for their recent self-titled EP, and their show comes through on that promise. The meaty riffs fill out Sun Distortion and the crowd really responds to the energy the band brings to the stage. Newcastle hardcore crew Safe Hands up the tempo with their spot as main support. It's a burst of energy that has everybody ready for what's next. 

Seeing that Genghis Tron have all but completely dropped off the musical grid, Rolo Tomassi have become the uncontested rulers of the whole electronic hardcore, grindcore punk thing. At their second Brisbane show in as many days, the English crew is warmed up to show fans why they're worthy of their crown. There's a deep vein of musical intricacy running through cuts like Party Wounds from 2010's Cosmology; sure it's quick and mathy and playing it would be insane, but what's more impressive is how cohesive all the different elements to the band falls together in the live setting. The glitchy buzz of James Spence's synthesiser crashes into the mind-bending dexterity of Chris Cayford's guitar, while Eva Spence's high register vocals contrast from the insistent thump of Edward Dutton's kick drum. 

There's so many elements at play in Rolo Tomassi's live show that you're expecting it not to all work together. But that doesn't happen tonight, their songs immediately eliciting a visceral response from the crowd. It's an immediate shot of adrenalin, that's too pure and dumb for a band whose records are as smart as Rolo's. The buzz doesn't last for long – there's not much more than half an hour – but while it hangs around, it's damn good stuff. Cuts off last year's Astrea like Howl and Ex Luna Scientia scream out of the PA like chaotically spazzed out punk brilliance while the band do their thing. By the end of their set, there's little doubt among those in attendance that Rolo Tomassi have killed it. So all that's really left to do is bow in the presence of royalty.