Last Wednesday, The Zoo was hit with a wave of nostalgia. Senses Fail gave Brisbane audiences a taste of 2005 with their post-hardcore sound.
Joined by Young Lions, Dollarossa and Take Us To Vegas, the boys from Jersey reminded audiences of a time when long fringes and black skinnies were the fashion and the emo movement was alive and kicking.
Bringing with them a whole range of songs from their latest album Renacer, Senses Fail hit the stage with energy and feeling.
Opening the night, as loud as you’ll hear The Valley on Wednesday night, Young Lions took the stage in a fashion that would set the precedence for the rest of the evening.
With a sound that was polished and clearly well-rehearsed, each member of this Brisbane outfit was showcased successfully and knew their place in the band. Their frontman Zach Britt was exceptionally charismatic and occasionally reminiscent of Saosin front man, Cove Reber. This talented group of musicians who managed to open the night successfully and excitedly.
Next on stage was another Brisbane outfit, Dollarossa. The boys definitely had a great energy on stage, but seemed to lack the charm of their predecessors. All talented musicians, the quintet certainly gave the crowd a sense of who they were as band.
Somehow their set, while musically solid, lacked a particular captivating charm that seemed to come so easily to the other bands on the bill. Regardless, they unquestionably put on a decent display, and kept the masses entertained.
Hitting the stage in a flurry of fervor and vigor, Take Us To Vegas were a fantastic opener to Senses Fail. Yet another Brisbane group, the five-piece definitely stood out from their precursors.
As seemed to be the theme of the night, their frontman was incredibly enigmatic, and really knew how to work to a crowd. Take Us To Vegas were loud, captivating and an absolute treat to watch while on stage. This is definitely a band to keep an eye out for in times to come.
The headliners took the stage and blew the audience away with a surge of wistfulness. It was obvious that there were many, many spectators that were there for a hit of nostalgia, mixed in with the new, younger fans that were the bulk of the mosh pit at the front of the stage.
Giving us plenty of songs from their latest record Renacer, as well as many old favourites from past albums, Senses Fail certainly gave the crowd what they wanted, nothing more and nothing less.
Once again, Buddy Nielsen was ever the effervescent front man, charming the punters with his love for Australia and his pure intensity when playing. Occasionally faulting in pitch and tone did not deter fans from Nielsen’s charm.
Backed by a thumping rhythm section and some amazing guitar work, the quintet from New Jersey certainly showed the other bands of the night how it’s done, their maturity and experience evident throughout their set.
Senses Fail certainly knows the formula of a post-hardcore song, and stick to it faithfully, and this most definitely did not disappoint Brisbane punters in the slightest.
Hitting them with song after song, and matching their energy levels every step of the way, this quintet certainly gave the valley the loudest, and most nostalgic night it’s seen in a long, long time.
