Written on the 30th of November 2009 by Chris Gibbings
THE TIVOLI
Tuesday, 24th November
It’s nine pm and the stage is set. Anticipation hangs heavy over the room as a sizable audience waits to be ravaged by Australia’s kings of riff-mania, Karnivool. As the cascading bass-line of “Simple Boy” fills the auditorium the crowd responds with frenzied howls of lust and joy.
Standing in front of the stage, the atmosphere is electric. Front man Ian Kenny, sporting a topknot style pony tale and Roy Orbison glasses, moves fluidly to his band’s music, his vocals flawless. The duelling guitar intro to the aptly named “Goliath” turns the heat up a notch as punters start surfing the crowd only to be flung over the stage barrier and sent on their way by security.
A concerned fan leans to my ear and loudly voices some concern over whether or not we will be hearing any songs from the previous album Themata. No sooner had my ear recovered from this point blank aural assault then the air was filled with distorted guitar strumming of “Cote”. The sanguine guitar solo performed perfectly by Drew highlights the fact that these guys, as always, are on fire tonight.
On the subject of fire, the crowd pleasing “Set Fire To The Hive” lifts the tempo to a new level, the crowd and band moving as one. “Mauseum” is next; the audience transfixed by the languid, dark lustre of what is one of Karnivool’s finest songs.
“Roquefort”, “Themata” and the epic “Change” finish the night off in style and the fans all walk away satisfied. On a mid-week night when Pearl Jam are playing, the number of people at the Tivoli for Karinivool is a true testament to the support and well being of the Aussie rock scene. Keep up the good work Karnivool!
)
