Brisbane Festivals Riverfire Finale was this year paired with a killer closing party at Riverstage featuring some of Australia’s favourite acts. The all day event featured Mane, WAAX, Methyl Ethel, Meg Mac and Violent Soho as well as the incredible back drop of the Brisbane Riverfire fireworks display. I rocked up just before WAAX kicked off their set, as ponchos were pulled over torsos and the heavens became darker the rain started to pour but the crowd couldn’t have been more excited.
WAAX
Standing in front of a backdrop that read “I’ve been disappointed lately” WAAX ripped into their set with full fury. WAAX always blow my mind with their live performances and this time was no different. Throwing themselves into everything with so much passion and dedication is something I could watch a thousand times over, its true musicianship, its raw and its addictive. As always front woman Maz and the boys were full of energy, there wasn’t a dull moment for their entire set it was all one massive party. Rolling through tracks such as Wild & Weak, This Everything and Nothing Is Always, WAAX also played a few new unreleased tracks such as Code No Apology which Maz followed up by saying “Because no one has to apologise for shit”. Highest streamed single Same Same sent people flying down the hill to the stage. Even though it started to rain slightly the crowd chucked on their ponchos and rocked out like it was a perfect day, they were giving everything back to WAAX who didn’t rest for a single second of their set. There is certainly nothing graceful about WAAX when they perform but who needs grace when you they are literally throwing their bodies on the line in share love of music.
Methyl Ethel
I have only ever seen Methyl Ethel once before and it was to see their single Ubu live at Splendour so this time I thought I’d give them a red hot go and I was pleasantly surprised with how good they were. Playing singles such as No. 28, Drink Wine and Twilight Driving, Methyl Ethel were upbeat and groovy but also super chill. I could feel myself getting super wrapped up in their performance from the minute they started playing, they were weirdly addictive and I was enjoying them so much more live than I ever have on recording. There wasn’t that much happening on stage but for some reason I didn’t feel the need to look. Everyone in the crowd had their eyes closed or were looking at their mates, singing and dancing their hearts out. The crowd favourite track by far was Ubu, but to be fair they could have played anything and the crowd would have grooved along.
Meg Mac
Although I feel as though Meg Mac and Methyl Ethel should have switched set times due to the build up to Violent Soho, Meg still put on a killer performance. Her voice is beautiful on and off recording and she gave 110% into connecting with the crowd and giving a show no one would forget. Opening with song Turning, Meg also played tracks such as Grace Gold, Maybe It’s My First Time and Cages. The crowd went mental when Meg said “It’ll probably be the last time I play this song, my Triple J Like A Version,” she admitted. “It’s more than one-year-old now, but I promised somebody on Instagram I’d perform it.” Her backup vocalist maintained the background melody of Tame Impala’s Let It Happen flawlessly and Meg sung like an angel. Making sure she connected with every inch of the stage and crowd, Meg let loose with her vocals during her most popular singles Low Blows and Roll Up Your Sleeves. These two tracks are my favourites from her discography, so I was over the moon to boogie to the tunes I’ve been waiting years to hear live.
After Meg Mac and before Violent Soho the Brisbane Riverfire took off. Fireworks from all throughout the city exploded off the Brisbane river, buildings and even from the Riverstage with an amazing display of colour and light. The Riverstage played tunes such as the Ghostbusters theme song, Star Wars and more as the fireworks shot from every direction. It was one of the best views I’ve had for Riverfire with the added bonus of classic tunes playing throughout.
Violent Soho
A band that I have seen several times before is Brisbane grunge rockers Violent Soho. But with lead singer Luke’s raspy vocals, Luke the bassists continuous hair flicks and Michael and James’s unruly high energy you have an act that no matter how many times you see them will never get old. Opening with single In The Aisle, Soho had the crowd in a mosh frenzy within seconds with sweaty bodies flying left right and centre.
Playing all of their hits such as Jesus Stole My Girlfriend, Dope Calypso, Saramona Says and a whole heap more, Soho had the crowd wrapped around their little finger and there was no way they were going to let that go. During single Fur Eyes a council rubbish bin even did an epic crowd surf to the security guards who were waiting patiently to conversant it (it made an excellent drum).
Soho also played a cover of Powderfinger’s single These Days where we were gracefully treated with front man Bernard Fanning in the flesh who sung and played the song along with the band. The boys had buckets of energy throughout their entire set and nothing could be better than Soho’s mid break banter because most of the time its so Aussie it hurts.
Violent Soho finished up their set with killer single Dope Calypso before finishing up with fan favourite and mosh starter Covered In Chrome. The crowd went absolutely mental for the last time of the night and once again Soho proved just why they have one of Australia’s biggest followings!
