Off the back of their exhilarating set at Splendour and the debut of their second full length album, Cloud Control certainly struck a chord with Brisbane fans at the Tivoli during the first show of their national Dream Cave tour.
The night was launched into dense concept rock courtesy of Gang Of Youths; a five-piece hailing from Sydney that spared the smattering of crowd any introduction.
Their guitar-dominated sound and raw vocals could be likened to The National or Kings Of Leon, with underlying traces of Bruce Springsteen.
Frontman, David Leaupepe, delivered versatility on guitar and keyboard without holding back on theatrics. His frenzied riffing was met with a few wardrobe malfunctions and a near-collision with a fellow band mate.
These things aside, an understated rendition of “Riverlands” in contrast to their powerful harmonies and cathartic instrumentals was enough to momentarily captivate.
Cue Palms. Another Sydney-based collective with a scuzzy garage rock feel. After ensuring there was a sufficient supply of beer on stage, a single spotlight illuminated lead vocalist, Al Grigg, until his fellow band members took their positions.
Their lyrics had a strong nasal quality about them that, through no fault of their own, could be attributed to genuine Aussie charm. After the aspirational “Don’t Be Ashamed,” they played a song about what they described as everyone’s favourite natural phenomenon, “Rainbows”.
Carefree choral refrains were a-plenty and they seemed to really thrive off the crowd as more and more people arrived. The set’s intensity went up a final notch as they ended with their single “The Summer Is Done With Us,” which featured some seriously bold shredding.
Grigg’s skill was heightened by the fact he played with a mop of sweaty and very head bang-able curls obscuring his vision. Further props go to their replacement bassist, “Lexy,” who filled in at short notice and had never played a live gig before.
By this point, the Tivoli had reached full capacity and so the real wait commenced. Legs dangled from the balcony as people secured their vantage points upstairs and towards the front people shuffled impatiently. No crowd control necessary, just yet.
Soon the headliners emerged and burst into “Scream Rave,” an appropriate choice considering it’s the opening track of their latest LP. Straight away, the drawling synth effects immersed everyone in an otherworldly experience, well suited to the cavernous space. In a dramatic visual statement, singer and guitarist, Alister Wright, mounted an amp at the front of stage washed in red light and largely concealed by an Adidas hoodie, addressing the audience with outstretched arms.
The group wasted no time before playing their critically acclaimed hit “Dojo Rising,” which embodies the anthemic indie-folk they became renowned for in 2010 at the time of their Bliss Release record, but takes on a heavier tone. It somehow manages to be both moody and uplifting, the crowd especially getting behind the emphatic “God damn’s” interspersed throughout.
The playful on stage dynamic leant itself to alternating between main roles. After brief greetings, Heidi Lenffer, on keyboards and back-up vocals, introduced another crowd pleaser from Dream Cave.
She explained how “Happy Birthday” was inspired by an encounter she had on the bus. It was hard to look away as she manoeuvred her tambourine in an effortlessly chic leopard print jumpsuit.
She went on to command the crowd with “The Smoke, The Feeling,” drenched in electronic effects, reverb and echo while Wright moved amongst the shadows, demonstrating his prowess on the guitar instead; joining forces to counteract each other’s falsetto in the likes of “Moonrabbit” and “Promises.”
Much to the audience’s delight the set was nicely balanced between old and new tracks. On a personal note, they took a moment to dedicate “Meditation Song # 2 (Why, Oh Why)” to the Skiller family, building up to an insatiably catchy albeit repetitive chorus.
“Ghost Story” was one of the most popular revisits to their back catalogue, drawing a resounding sing-along from the audience and general awe during the glitchy guitar breakdown. In his fervor, Wright attempted to mount an amp again but faced some technical difficulties and a disconnected guitar plug.
To their credit, the band kept playing until he recovered, then acknowledged the song as “the one where we always break shit.” They also referenced the sweet acoustic number, “Just For Now” as a song that was in a movie about strippers (a little out of place, no?), then what was undoubtedly the most highly anticipated song of the night, “There’s Nothing In The Water We Can’t Fight” which produced a truly electric atmosphere.
Cloud Control has come a long way since their humble beginnings supporting Supergrass at the Tivoli in 2008. Their candidness about walking off-stage and waiting to be called back for an encore then realising they just wanted to “shut up and play,” as well as their willingness to “sign anything after the show” added to a memorable performance.
It was fitting that they ended proceedings with their LP’s eponymous track – a step into new ambient territory for the group, but still showcasing the blissed out and psychedelic crooning we have come to love them for.
