Lauren Crabbe ( Synaesthete Media ) came along to photograph on October 8th and has given us her take on
the night .
Next up in the series of live music at Woolly Mammoth Mane Stage was Brisbane metalcore band Revoid, with supporting acts Krave and Grace Drummond. A handful of rebellious punters stayed up late on a school night last Thursday (8th October), and were rewarded with a show that set our teeth gnashing and minds tripping back to moody teenage years.
The event followed on from a hard rock gig a few weekends back (headlined by local band Street Pieces) that proved to be the musical equivalent of having a leopard-print garter ripped away by some hungry groom’s teeth.
Brisbane folk who’ve been whining about the lack of live music, take note: this venue is on fire at the moment. Delivering shows most weekends that make listeners wet in their seats (we’ve gotta have some fun, now we can’t dance), you’ll not be disappointed in trading your Netflix subscription for the cost of a ticket.
The line-up happily featured a couple of she-shredders, the first being Grace Drummond. She’s the leading lady of skate-punk band Something Something Explosion with an atomic capacity for wailing. With her band members currently stuck in Melbourne due to covid, she was lucky to link up with two Toowoomba pals on the night who supported her on guitar and drums. Notable songs from the set included a moving cover of “Dreams” by The Cranberries, and “Sick” -- a giant rip on creepy dudes who’ve preyed on her as the (frequently) solo chick in a line-up, which she delivered as essentially a three-minute incensed roar before collapsing to the floor, barely able to talk or breathe.
Self-titled, “Brisbane’s next generation of hard rock bitchin’ metal,” Krave swooped in next and picked up what Drummond put down. Featuring another kick-ass front woman on vocals and bass (Siana Davis), and a lead guitarist with an impressive head of hair made for headbanging, Krave ripped the roof off with tunes like “Anxiety”, with an accompanying anecdote by Davis about how empowering it can be as an anxious person to perform onstage and embody a whole different identity. Their power was palpable, and the audience (this reviewer included) definitely received a hit of cathartic pleasure in watching the three band members thrash their heads and jump around with reckless abandon, despite not being able to join in.
Eventually the stage went dark, and a blue spotlight drew our attention to a commanding presence with a curtain of long hair across his face and glinting silver cross dangling from his neck. Revoid emerged from the darkness with all guns blazing, the ammunition being sick guitar solos, snares, and the lead singer’s roar with the relentless power of an AK-47.
Like with the Street Pieces gig a few weekends back, it was exhilarating to behold the energy and passion of talented musicians relishing the chance to be back in the public eye and delivering their craft. We could feel it with every song, every scream, every fierce strum of the guitar.
This was metal music that defied the stereotypical association with anger or inner vitriol turned outward; rather, it exuded inclusivity, gratitude, and a burning enthusiasm for life. These gigs, hosted by MMK Music Promotions, are drawing the state’s surplus of talent out of hibernation. No need to buy into the belief that covid killed the music -- just buy a ticket to the next Woolly Mammoth gig the next time you wanna bunk off adulting and feel all the good feels.
Get along an experience it Live at Woolly mammoth Mane Stage Anne Street Fortitude Valley.