The
venue: The Metro, Melbourne
The reason: The Butterfly Effect
Ok lets just get one thing out of the way now.
I understand giving a support act your blessing in their quest to get as
good as the main act and to get some exposure across our country. But seriously
start getting bands that fit together. The Dukes of Windsor and The Butterfly
Effect do not go together!
The Butterfly Effect (TBE) are one of Australia’s best hard rock
bands to come out of the past 10 years. The Dukes Of Windsor are one
of the worst, lame rock bands to come out of Australia ever! After last
months diabolical night seeing Atreyu (see Issue #06 -Ed.), I didn’t
think it could get any worse. Well it didn’t but it was very, very
close.
With the 5 piece all wearing pants that were so tight that they all moved
like Peter Garrett (they couldn’t bend their legs at all, just
moving along the stage like rusty robots). They sounded terrible, looked
terrible and just as their set was finishing the bar ran out of Carlton
Draught and VB, so we were left to pay $9 a beer for Corona’s.
So suffice to say the night was panning out to be a shocker. Maybe I
am being harsh on 'The Dukes', after all, about 10 people out of the
sold out crowd at The Metro seemed to be enjoying it, the rest just continuing
in conversations with each other.
Once the drab act had finished it was time for me to move upstairs to
the viewing platform. I’d never seen a band from up there before
so thought it would be a nice change. The music finished, the lights
turned off and the crowd instantly cheered. I hadn’t heard the
new material yet so I was interested to see how it came off live. I was
not disappointed. Opening with new single Gone (which I’m
not a huge fan of), it was obvious they were here for a massive show.
The crowd was instantly into the swing of things with front man Clint
Boge showing to many why he can be regarded as one of the best singers
in the country, throwing his voice into a strong harmony then instantly
changing to a growl then dropping back into a new harmony. It just
leaves you in awe. I was constantly having to give my girlfriend a
nudge to get her out of the hypnotic state that she gets in listening
to Clint’s voice. Lucky for me that he was on stage out of reach
or I think I might’ve been going home alone that night.
Pulling out some crowd favourites like Slow Descent, One
Second Of Insanity and Perception Twin it was quite evident
that this band will soon be pushing their sounds across the world.
I was interested to see how the new songs cam off for bass player Glenn
Esmond, as previously he was just part of the furniture in the band;
blink and you’d miss him. His bass lines were merely just bass
lines, but upon a closer listening of their latest album Imago it struck
me that Glen has become a Bass Player, with catch lines and solos that
don’t just blend into the music but actually make the music.
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You could tell by the smile on his face while playing the new material
that he was happy with his new found identity and when slipping back into
the older songs he seemed to just sink back on the stage into the darkness.
Halfway through the set Clint emerged with a guitar around him, which had
everyone doing a double take. Starting with the riff that I knew all too
well it was Pink Floyd’s The Wall that they were playing.
It was amazing. Just as the first chorus was done they moved into Before
They Knew, personally my favourite song from the new album. It was an awesome
way to put a spin on a song, one I know I won’t be forgetting for
a while.
The crowd was getting a nice mosh going with a few 'surfers getting amongst
it. Quite funny that a girl in a mini skirt thought it would be a good
idea to get up there too. One bit of advice for you girls: If you are going
to do it firstly don’t wear a mini and secondly, don’t wear
a g-string, especially if you don’t want every single guy there to
be grabbing you. While feeling sorry for the girl you couldn’t help
but laugh. (yet no photos? -Ed.)
Finishing the set with the epic Take It Away from their first
self-titled EP, you could just feel the energy and passion coming from
the band. The encore was followed up so quickly you wouldn’t be mistaken
from saying it wasn’t really an encore. Pulling out classics Crave and Always,
I confirmed my thoughts for the past couple of years that this is the best
live act in Australia.
Finishing the set with the song The End seemed a bit of an anti
climax. Don’t get me wrong it was a great song with inspirational
lyrics, but it's just not the way to finish a set for such a powerful rock
band.
Overall I would say if you haven’t heard The Butterfly Effect before,
please do yourself a favour and go see them and one of the multitude of
local gigs around this country. Or better yet, go buy an album, you will
not be disappointed. If you know them then no doubt you have already been
captivated by them.
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