Review: Art Of Fighting at Howler, Melbourne, April 11th, 2019
Earlier this year, it was announced that after 12 long years, beloved Melbourne outfit Art Of Fighting were making their long-awaited return.
Delivering the single ‘Genie’, this new song was a welcome comeback for the group, and undoubtedly had fans excited about whether this song was a one-off, or if we were entering a renewed period of activity.
Sure enough, the band unleashed another song – ‘Your Love’ – not long after, and announced a pair of single launches in Sydney and Melbourne to premiere these new tracks.
As a result, this meant that longtime fans would have their first chance to see Art Of Fighting performing onstage once again.
So on Thursday night, it was hardly a surprise to see this ARIA Award-winning act perform to a packed house at Melbourne’s Howler.
Check out Art Of Fighting’s ‘Your Love’:
As newcomers and veteran fans slowly made their way into the hazy confines of the Brunswick venue, they were met with an oddly sparse bandroom, with few people clearly making it a point to see the evening’s support act.
For the lucky ones who were in attendance, they were treated to an absolutely sublime performance from none other than Leo Mullins, formerly of iconic acts like 2 Litre Dolby, Small Knives, and The Welcome Mat.
Backed by a band which fluctuated in size between two and five members, Mullins dipped into a nine-song set that saw him perform tracks off his latest album, Being Here Is Everything.
Kicking off the set with album opener ‘Deeper Blues’, Mullins’ gentle guitar playing and smooth voice were backed by his highly accomplished band. As the set continued, his bandmembers switched instruments frequently, effortlessly showcasing their talents where needed.
Switching up the songs with a bit more of an upbeat, rock-based feel at times, Leo Mullins’ set swung between genres at the drop of a hat, moving from the atmospheric to the soulful with ease, and truly giving the audience a bit of everything.
Before taking his leave from the stage, Mullins wrapped up his appearance in duo formation, teaming up with 2 Litre Dolby bandmate, and the other half of Small Knives, Philip Romeril, to perform a track from the latter band’s back catalogue, truly leaving those in attendance aware they had just witnessed something special.
Check out Leo Mullins’ ‘Deeper Blues’:
As Leo Mullins left the stage, it was clear that the crowd size had swelled, with everyone trying their best to find the perfect vantage spot to witness this sold out gig.
Before long, the lights dimmed, and an atmospheric drone filled the air. As fans recognised this as the intro to ‘Skeletons’, the members of Art Of Fighting took the stage, and unleashed a stunning performance of this legendary track.
As audience members were left stunned by the beauty of this track, it was clear that even after 12 years away from the game, Art Of Fighting had barely missed a trick, effortlessly dipping back into these songs like it was 2007 all over again.
“We’ve come out of hiding,” joked frontman Ollie Browne to laughter from the group’s fans.
As the set continued, the group ripped through classics like ‘Along The Run’ and ‘Misty As The Morning’, with fans singing along to almost every word.
After sharing a new track (which may potentially bear the title of ‘Dry Land’), the group decided to dip into their new work, delivering a rendition of their new single ‘Genie’.
A gorgeous tune, it’s clear that the band’s songwriting abilities haven’t aged a day, as the track sat almost inconspicuously amongst the rest of the set, blending in as if it were a tune written more than a decade earlier.
Check out Art Of Fighting’s ‘Genie’:
After performances of tracks like ‘Give Me Tonight’ and ‘Break For Me’, Art Of Fighting again delivered a fresh tune, helping the evening’s single launch live up to its promises with a mesmerising version of ‘Your Love’.
Before long though, renditions of fan-favourites like ‘Reasons Are All I Have Left’ and ‘Just Say I’m Right’ signalled the end of the set, and the group took their leave from the stage.
Thankfully, this absence was short-lived, with rapturous applause welcoming the group back into the spotlight to perform a two-track encore.
Deftly manoeuvring their way through these stunning tracks, the group closed out their set with a performance of the gorgeous ‘Heart Translation’ from 2004’s Second Storey, leaving fans undoubtedly hungry for more.
After 12 years between drinks, dedicated followers of the group were more than pleased to finally see these indie-rock icons hitting the stage once again.
With an absolutely mesmerising performance to their name, Art Of Fighting did note that they’ll be releasing their long-awaited fourth album later in the year, meaning you likely won’t have to wait another 12 years to experience their amazing live show.
Check out Art Of Fighting’s ‘Skeletons’:
