Pirate Life Brewing - Saturday 18th November

Written by: Belinda Jane - Sense Music Media | Saturday 18th November 2023
Photos by: Alysha Mallia >> FULL GALLERY

My hometown of Adelaide isn’t always at the top of the list for major tours and certainly not festivals. Usually, announcements on the annual editions have us heavy music fanatics hopping flights to the eastern seaboard, yet in FROTH & FURY we have something uniquely and proudly of our own.

The sun, crisp as the Lager itself, beams over the brickyards of the premier Pirate Life Brewery, setting the stage for what promises to be the biggest and best Froth & Fury fest yet. Closing off three streets in the backroad intricacies of the Port Adelaide precinct to add a third stage this year, the dynamics and schematics could not have worked better to deliver this aim. Skipping stages to witness as many of the 36 bands as humanly possible took merely a moment. Every band commanded their own space, only adding even more to the audience experience.

Already buoyed by the beer and sunshine, it was an even greater pleasure to see the many shaded seating areas dotted throughout the precinct, offering as prime viewing of the bands in many cases, often adjacent to a tantalising selection of food vans and BBQ pits.

Setting the vibe early was LATE NIGHT LIES, whose tone and pace took me back to memories of the opening sets at the BDO. The heavier rendition of Taylor Swift’s ‘Love Story’ evidence of the contrasting nature of metalheads’ musical proclivities.

SUFFER THE EVENUE carried a different and varied sound but cemented that festival feeling – costumes and legionnaires hats a plenty, the playfulness of the Port Pirie lads was infectious. Proof that getting there for the opening acts is always a must, you just never know what you’ll uncover!

VAPOURS made sure to inject the Fury from the very start, treating punters to a debut of their new song ‘Parasite’. Fittingly titled, ‘Reflections’ touching tribute to the now closed Adelaide icon, Enigma Bar, after 24 years of gigs was a standout.

You might have heard the tease that there’s only one degree of separation in Adelaide and walking around the festival grounds I found myself thinking constantly how familiar everybody looked. We’ve probably seen each other a bunch, most likely once or twice at Enigma. VAPOURS gave us an opportunity to reflect ourselves on those many good times.

On the bar for EMERGENCY RULE. Hampered somewhat by the levelling, Doug Clark’s gravelly smoothness was muted by comparison to the other instruments, yet I was nonetheless transfixed. With swagger and groove these hometown legends, careened through their newest, ‘Guard’, and established favourites like ‘Ulysses’. With increasing intoxication, this band demonstrates rock and roll continues to beat strong.

DEVILSKIN opens the showcase of strong female voices on today’s bill. Jennie Skulander is a vision in sparkling black hotpants and commands the stage; ‘Higher’ particularly accentuating her prowess for siren song and demonic growls. Both are equally alluring, eyes and ears are drawn.

DYSSIDIA’s frontman, Mitch Brackman, is a highly theatrical performer returning the love from the audience. His vocal abilities are staggeringly hypnotic and when in combination with his own stage presence, and the stoic support of the band, it’s nothing short of magnificent.

RELAPSE’s energy is palpable, asking for two things from the crowd - two-step in the moshpit, a request I happily fulfilled, followed shortly thereafter with the granting of a wish for us all to get over and support MIRRORS.

Nothing less than a smile was offered to me at any point during the day, contrasting the moniker some people still attach to heavy music lovers and bands. Literally, every demographic was represented and here for the same thing – a good time, where any and everyone was welcome.

In one of the best performances of the day, MIRRORS ensured these trends continued unabated. Patty Goodman wears the most infectious smile, as he masterfully sways between emotive melodies and crushing unclean vocals. Bass guitarist, Jake Mackin, stands strong, wearing only tattoos across his top-half, reflects the increasing heat of the day.

A sensory spectacle, MIRRORS draw a thick crowd, making them swoon and bounce in equal measure. ‘Automata’ buzzed with energy, the final track ‘Rebirth’ conjured the first circle pit of the day. Attended by people of all persuasions, witnessing a father and son in full flight together, and another dad, toddler on knee, supervising his young daughter throwing up devil horns and throwing down amongst adults as pit devolved to dance, truly showed the power and magic of music.

RELIQA returned to the stage in style, after last touring with BABYMETAL in June, quickly allaying any doubt of, as put by Monique Pym, lack of practice. Another fierce female in the lead, Pym commands her presence, combining, as does their music, energy and allure.

Continuing to amaze with their genre-defying ways, WINDWAKER were absolutely incendiary. It’s almost impossible to keep my feet still to record thoughts, especially as they jump between Love Language’s ultimate tracks and interludes of their own take on the iconic dubstep track ‘Warp’.

‘Superstitious Fantasy’ is always a pure pleasure, setting dancefloor and moshpit on fire simultaneously, Liam Guinane’s croon seductive as hell, as he reaches out to the adoring crowd. ‘Beautiful’ unleashes yet another circle, finishing the song with a furious flourish. As ‘Sirens’ closes out, the band thank us for their final show for 2023 but it’s us that should be thanking them.

The energy all around surges, to almost impossible peaks for the insatiable OCEAN GROVE. Dale Tanner sings ‘Cali Sun’ as he parades in Adelaide’s and no one could possibly look better in Kappa tracksuit pants. Swapping duties with Twiggy Hunter midway adds yet another layer to an outstanding set, ‘Junkie$’ a particular highlight. ‘Stratosphere Love’ conjures the most mayhem in a circle pit yet. A brilliant mix showcasing the very best of this band across their catalogue.

Abandoning my comfort and home of the Fury stage for the first time this afternoon, and the last time today, OCEAN SLEEPER called and absolutely delivered. The tried and tested model of metalcore, combining clean and scream, this band do it luxuriously, without a hint of cliché. They’ve got the undivided and electric attention of the crowd from start to finish, with the closer ‘Light in My Dark’ begging for more. One of the highlights for my gig crew, definitely catch them at GOOD THINGS in just a couple of weeks!

My moment of the day, SUNK LOTO. It’s very difficult to describe in words the monumental impact seeing the full play through of Between Birth & Death. It was eighteen years ago since their last visit, twenty years since release, and most of us probably thought we’d not get our chance again. Here they are and they’ve never sounded better.

A full spectrum of emotion was traversed, hugging friends and screaming out the words to ‘Everything Everyway’, spending a moment with head in hands for others, especially ‘Starved’ and ‘Soul Worn Thin’. The truest gift though came with the encore performance of ‘Vinegar Stroke’ and ‘Sunken Eyes’, which I absolutely relished whilst chatting excitedly of memories with the MIRRORS lads.

SUICIDAL TENDENCIES are another monstrous entity that defy words. There’s no point listing the tracks, they’re endless! It was a time spent down in the moshpit, with my group of friends who all came today for this. It was bliss to witness my nearest and dearest in their element, my choice confirmed as Mike Muir launched himself into the crowd, coming to screaming rest not two steps away from me.

To close this epic day, THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT took to the stage. A similar trajectory of sorts to SUNK LOTO, the encapsulation of what it means to see this band play live once more cannot be overstated. Clint Boge, donning pink dressing gown and pyjamas, jokingly discusses our collective older age, stating “I should be in bed by now!” There’s no chance of that for any of us, and the hum of the experience will keep me up for hours yet.

Opening with ‘The Window & the Watcher’, discarding robe to the ever glorious ‘Always’, the set showcases the rainbow of their discography; ‘Gone’ and ‘Room Without A View’ two of my favourite heart swoon and break tracks. ‘A Slow Descent’ and ‘Perception Twin’ both outstanding and the surprise entry towards the close of the set, ‘Sweet & Low’, made me scream in delight. Unbelievable, like the rest of this amazing day, going out on high after high.

A love letter to beer of all persuasions and heavy music genres of the same, Froth & Fury has all the atmosphere of a larger festival, whilst being uniquely and quintessentially South Australian. Smaller in stature to our Eastern neighbours, we can turn it up and throw down with the biggest and the best. Cheers to next year, I’ll see you in the pit!

All photos by Alysha Mallia
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