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Mother’s Day is usually a day of relaxing, peace and quiet. But not this one. It was loud, it was energetic and who would want it any other way in the home of music that is Melbourne.
An absolutely stacked line up plus the venue of 170 Russell is a recipe for success at the best of times, but you could feel in the air there was a different level of energy than usual.
Let me start off by saying if you’re one who normally skips an opening act or two, I implore you to stop doing yourself that disservice, as you never know what you will discover.
Melbourne locals Bad/Love were first up for the evening, vocalist Landon Kirk really set the tone for the evening. There wasn’t a second of their set where he did not give every bit of him that he had to offer. With tracks like “UNGOD” and their latest release “5AM” Bad/Love exudes an amount of energy and passion that is often attempted but can easily be spotted when it’s unauthentic. Bad/Love are the real deal, and if they’re not in your rotation, you need to rectify that immediately.
Next were Brisbane based Stepson. Another great homegrown band with an evolving sound that it taking them away from their “sadboy reputation” (their words not mine) in to a darker, more intense era of the band. From tracks like “The Entire History of You” to “Discover Lonely” Stepson took the energy that was already in the venue and ran with it and made it their own.
The Home Team were the final opener for the evening. The Seattle quartet making their Melbourne debut to a roar. “Watching All Your Friends Get Rich” was a great way to set the tone for them. Frontman Brian Butcher commented that they were definitely the “softest” band on the line up, but they ensured the vibes were immaculate. They may not have had crushing mosh pits, but they did make up for it with the entire venue dancing. They played a lot of their newer music, and even delved into their back catalogue with the 2018 “She’s Quiet” even commenting that they may not play that song much any more moving forward. “LOUD” had the entire crowd gyrating, and surely the rhythms and sultry singing will be responsible for a few unplanned surprises that may rear their head in nine month’s time, before closing out with “Right Through Me”. The venue was full of smiles and ready for the main show.
10:15PM on a Sunday is traditionally when people are relaxed, some are already asleep, but not tonight. The crowd was ready to blow the lid off 170 Russell and when Leeds based Caskets took the stage, they certainly did. “Drowned In Emotion” was not only the best way to kick off the proceedings, but also the theme of the evening for some. The album “Reflections” which this tour was for, is one of the most emotive albums going around at the moment, and looking through the crowd, it was apparent how much Caskets music means to their fans. With tracks like “Guiding Light” and “Hold Me Know” being played, the fans held on to every word as if it was their last. At one stage vocalist Matt Flood had to take a moment, tears visibly welling up in his eyes. To this the crowd applauded him, not in a patronising way but in a way that said, you’ve been there for all of us, let us do that for you. The energy hit an all time high during “Glass Heart” with every single attendee screaming their hearts out. Caskets opted against doing an encore, and to be honest, it was not required. They left it all out there on the stage. And the crowd knew, they loved the show, they appreciated the raw emotionality, and they left with amazing new memories that no one can take away from them.
In the words of the band from the track “Better Way Out”
“When you think you’re not enough, you don’t fit in. Go and wear your heart upon your sleeve. But it’s hard when you don’t believe”
Thank you Caskets for showing us what it means to wear your heart upon your sleeve, now leave it to us to believe.
Words by Mathew Went
