Panic Room - Saturday 27 February 2021

Written by: Jimmy Wah - Sense Music Media

As many of you may already know, a weekend in Sydney rarely goes by without live music. Although it did feel a bit that way with lockout laws dominating the past decade in an attempt to curb anti-social behaviour across the city (at what cost?). Alas, the glimmer of hope we were offered when lockout laws were finally lifted in January 2020 was stripped away by Covid. Sydney has been starved of some of its live music staples on the Australian circuit; one of those being CLINT BOGE from Gold Coast alternative rock powerhouse THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT. Clint has been unable to play here in Sydney since 2019 but on Saturday 27 February 2021, The Crowbar Sydney was finally able to greet him once again. Playing a long overdue show that had already been delayed due to Covid-19 and further postponed on 2 separate occasions, Clint offered a double session of his performance alongside TYREN HONES, with the surprise appearance of GLENN ESMOND (bassist from THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT) to round out the evening. To hear Clint’s voice finally break the silence and to see him on the stage is a recipe guaranteed to satisfy what we all Crave. So how did it play out?

A long line of adoring fans filled the pavement outside The Crowbar (formerly The Bald Faced Stag) on Parramatta Road, greeted by friendly staff who safely directed them to their seats. The familiar slick, rectangular entertainment space adjoining the historic pub has always reminded me of a well sealed panic room; a confined space where everything is safe, where you have everything you need and you never have to leave. The darkness in the cool cell emphasises the well lit stage, with sound so clear you can feel it inside you. Tonight the crowd was seated, which felt like it might take away from the experience but I was soon proven wrong. Clint and his musical off-sider appeared on stage as if by magic and before we knew it we were introduced to TYREN HONES to his left. The show immediately started with Clint’s charismatic banter, giving Tyren a chance to loosen up with a joke made about his shirt:
“I told him we should both dress really festive and the crowd will love it, then I showed up wearing all black” said Clint, drawing laughter form the crowd. Tyren added another layer of laughter saying ”Yeah, he stitched me up!” starting the back and forth between the pair that would become a hallmark of the evening. Then, after opening with crowd-pleasers from THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT, it didn’t take long to discover that the chemistry between the pair wasn’t just in the comedy arena but the music too.

You can always be guaranteed a fantastic performance by Clint. His voice sounds even better live as it does on a recording; because you not only get to hear it speak to you between songs but discover his vocal versatility allowing for different formats and arrangements. Tyren was not only lucky enough to play alongside such a reliably consistent professional as Clint, but was also able to put his stamp on the stage as a flawlessly clean guitarist with the ability to hold solid foundations to support him. What’s more, I couldn’t help but notice him take the lead with the guitar while backing it up with vocal harmonies that filled the gaps seamlessly. As they moved throughout their repertoire (without a setlist I might add) I took my seat at the back of the room to let the audience enjoy the intimacy of a stripped back acoustic performance of THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT classics such as Aisles of White and Gone; Clint’s originals including Burn and Dance With The Devil; and well known covers such as Everlong by THE FOO FIGHTERS. All the while the banter never stopped in between and during songs, as the audience was encouraged to sing along and fill in the gaps.

The set started much later than expected so even though it was only 40mins in, it was already 11pm and I couldn’t tell how long was left. All I knew is I could easily sit through another hour of music at least. It was then that I heard a familiar voice say “Hey Jim.” from the darkness. Sure enough it was none other than GLENN ESMOND, the bassist from THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT who I knew had a gig that night so wasn’t expecting to see. No sooner had he put down his guitar than he was sitting on the edge of the stool beside me with his eyes glued to the stage. It was another familiar song by THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT and he said “This is the part I would usually sing a harmony in...” and before I could finish saying “It always sounds better with you up there” he was sneaking up beside the audience and onto the stage to steal Clint’s guitar, drawing cheers from the audience as he brought the stage to life. Glenn finished off the song with Clint and Tyren in a seamless transition before they took a quick break to grab a drink and set things up properly. This is the first time Glenn had a chance to play alongside Clint since Good Things Festival in 2019 but it was as if no time had passed at all!

Much to my own excitement, once Glenn arrived back on stage with Clint and Tyren, the trio kicked things off with their signature acoustic cover of Sober by TOOL. This was followed up by another familiar riff, as Clint belted out the gravelly tones of DuHast by German industrial metallers RAMMSTEIN which had the audience laughing almost as much as they were at the seamless transition into 500 Miles by THE PROCLAIMERS using the exact same riff. Finishing off the cliche’d covers with a shortened version of Horses by DARYL BRAITHEWAITE, the stage ensemble played several more songs by THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT which were given new life with the presence of Glenn. The energy he brought to the stage allowed Clint to put down the guitar and take the mic to give the audience an incredible vocal experience with delayed effects and spacious vibrato, turning his operatic compositions into an all-encompassing whirlwind of vestibular hypnotism.

Back to my original point about the panic room that you never want to leave, performances like this are the reason why. This was mirrored by a story that Clint told about his son not recognising his own music but being eager to put an iPad in front of his face to show him a video about a dog doing a funny thing and a person getting hurt. “With no explanation, no reason and no context!” Clint cried. “It’s a scary world out there… Let’s never leave. We have you beautiful people, us beautiful people, good music and enough booze to sink a ship. Why don’t we just close the doors and stay at The Crowbar forever?”.

Unfortunately, with the curfew set at 12am, forever wasn’t an option… but closing out with one of the best versions of Hurt by NINE INCH NAILS that I’ve ever heard, I kinda wish it was.

Website

Download

Videos

Social Media

CLINT BOGE on Spotify