Live Review: White Walls, Occults, Quiet Steps, Sewers

Ahead of their upcoming performance at All Tomorrow's Parties, loud Melbourne oddities White Walls have ventured up to Brisbane for a couple of shows beginning with a packed bill at the Crowbar this evening.

Kicking out the first jam, Sewers are their usual selves, oozing with dirge and a general lack of care to the outside world. But something about the sound for the group is off tonight, with the music lacking the bubbling pus that normally emerges from their onslaught. A few strings are broken and buttons pushed in an all-around great set.

With vocalist Leon Perkin now residing in Melbourne, shows for Quiet Steps are a bit further apart these days but still more than welcome when on the table. The group start with a new track that's a bit post-rock and a tad shoegaze and is quite possibly the highlight of the set, being such a departure from the group's usual fret board spiralling riffs. The rest draws from their latest releases Dying Livers/Secular – it all flows well and for the most part is the most accessible and well-executed set of the night.

Occults seem to be growing and growing in stature over their short existence, and tonight finds them quite high up on the bill. Having recently gotten back from touring their 7”, the group deliver their smooth gothic sounds with great effect. Similar to Sewers, the sound for the group is a bit odd in its execution in comparison to past gigs, with a rather noticeable lack of oomph. Still, they are entertaining and naturally draw a big audience.

Then come White Walls, who reportedly smashed a few beer bottles through their sheer volume during sound check, and it is naturally a loud affair, although this volume progressively decreases as the show continues. The sound is generally pulled back as the set progresses which is a bit of a shame, and it's hard to understand the reasoning. The group are naturally tight as they go through their never less than interesting back catalogue and it is all over too soon.

Crowbar goes through various cycles of bands of different creeds and with a general slant towards the more mainstream ideas of punk, bands from a more underground nature come off slightly odd within its walls. However, tonight is still a great night that all-in-all has drawn a big crowd and seen each band perform to their peak, and ultimately you can't ask for much more than that.