There was a sentimental feeling about tonight’s gig at Enigma Bar, with As Tall As Lions touring Australia for the final time ever as they venture off into the wilderness after three amazing albums and one EP in their time together. A special evening was to become even more special with the knowledge that this was to be the band’s last show ever. In Adelaide, the town that is perceived to get nothing special musically compared to its interstate counterparts. I think a few members of the crowd began to count their lucky stars as the news caught on through the venue. But before the big finale ensued, a slew of local and interstate acts took to the stage to press their claims in the live arena – a surprising four acts to be exact.
After a short acoustic set from Aeden Cooper under the moniker of Fire For A Dry Mouth, local band Raider took to the stage and looked like seasoned performers and consummate professionals alike. Playing a simple brand of atmospheric indie rock, the four-piece displayed their talent from the get-go. Albeit their sound is nothing new or different overall, what Raider do they do well, considering the simplistic set-up they bring to the table. Even more impressive was the fact that this was their first ever live show; I think the majority of the quickly gathering crowd were genuinely shocked considering the band’s high intensity live show and stage presence to that point. The guys mixed it up with a few acoustic sounding numbers in the set list for good measure, proving they are a must-watch for future successes in the industry if they can maintain the same level of commitment they showed this evening.
Next up was another great local act in Mere Theory, who this evening, as a two-piece, took an acoustic approach to their set, although synonymously they used an electric guitar throughout the half-hour show. Some newer tracks were showcased from the band’s upcoming album, along with older favourites 'You Will Never Win', 'Gracefully', and 'Defeating This Feeling'. Mere Theory certainly have some amazing tracks and are continuing to do South Australia proud musically, yet their back catalogue is much more enjoyable with the full band playing in unison. Nevertheless, the raw emotion from lead singer Chris Mellow’s vocal emphasised the greatest elements of each song, helping to make this a thoroughly pleasing set to watch.
A long wait then developed before we saw Central Coast rockers Elliot The Bull take to the stage. It took at least 30-40 minutes for the band to set their gear up, a rather long wait when under a flourish of mounted pedestal fans which left most searching for warmth in the intimate venue. The five-piece made the wait worthwhile, playing tracks mostly from their recently released, freely downloadable EP in support of this tour. It was hard to succinctly pinpoint the group’s sound, but elements of folk, rockabilly, punk/hardcore and indie pop all came together to create a pleasurable sound. The band’s frontman went on to thank As Tall As Lions at least six times throughout the set for taking them on their last trip around Australia, ensuring we all had sore hands at the end of their very entertaining set, which also included a broken string and some well ad-libbed musicianship as a result of the mishap. Luckily the As Tall As Lions boys politely lent the band their acoustic guitar for the closing stages of their show, such was the camaraderie on the night. Elliot The Bull will continue to pick-up high-quality support slots while they continue to perform as they did this evening and will certainly go on to achieve bigger and better things in the future.
And finally, almost half an hour after they were meant to begin (not that anyone cared), the main act arrived on stage, satisfying every crowd member from the get-go. 'Ghost of York' from the band’s sophomore self-titled album opened the proceedings in a fine manner, with every ounce of softness displayed on record becoming completely intensified when performed live. This is credit to the New Yorkers, especially considering what could be perceived as a somewhat small turnout, yet this only made for a far more intimate and memorable experience. Leaving no stone unturned, the five-piece breezed through tracks from all three of their albums, much to the crowd’s delight. It is evident here tonight that they are the rich man’s version of Death Cab For Cutie, with far more intensity and variation on their hands compared to their established indie-pop counterparts. Tracks like 'Circles' and 'You Can’t Take It With You' show just how far the band has progressed since its beginnings nearly a decade ago, and proved to be signifiers of the band’s career on the night. The band left the stage with minimal fanfare, yet the crowd remained stagnant in the hope of one last encore from the band.
After much enthusiasm from the fans the encore finally came; lead singer Dan Nigro simply stating his desperate need for a toilet break was the reason behind the extended pause. The guys weren’t really sure where to go with the encore at first before playing a rousing rendition of 'Be Here Now'. This was followed by the last song the band would ever play live, 'Love, Love, Love (Love, Love)', a clear crowd favourite and possibly the most perfect way the band could have ended their career. This was where members of Elliot The Bull provided each band member with a shot of an undisclosed liquor (it appeared clear) and beers to celebrate the finale with. It provided a joyous occasion, and one that would have been bitter sweet for the band. At least they can be remembered for one thing: their last ever show occurred in little old Adelaide, and for that, those who witnessed it will be forever thankful.
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