After a venue upgrade from a sold-out intimate show, The Comfort wrapped up their Experience Everything. Live and Die. Tour at The Brightside in Brisbane last Sunday with Nervous Light and Wifecult.
Kicking off the night was Sunshine Coast alt-rock trio Wifecult, who garnered much praise from the following bands – and rightfully so. Picked melodies and garage grooves had the early turnout vibing to their summery emo sound with a set of unheard newbies and old favourites like “Deadman” and “Seeing Double”. A broken string saw them switch out guitars mid-song and jump straight back in like a badarse. You could tell by the visceral performance that these guys are seasoned veterans in the live scene, closing with an extended intro to latest single “Wearing Thin”.
Next up, Brisbane experimental emo boys Nervous Light swayed with their pop-punk hooks and big riffs over hip hop programming. Vocal harmonies and rough screams added to the dynamic of the set with humorous banter breaking the awkward silences between songs. The band frequently thanked the crowd for coming out on a Sunday, Wifecult for the tough follow-up and The Comfort for the opportunity – another big accomplishment after having recently supported Switchfoot at a sold-out Triffid. Latest single “Coffee Stains & Picture Frames” had a bit of a singalong from a familiar few and everyone brought it in for epic closer “Haunt”.
The floor was packed for Brisbane alt-rock quartet The Comfort, who opened with cinematic pads and thunderous drums which led to “Love is a Dying Plant”. They swiftly moved into “Grace” with some powerful high notes from animated singer and bassist Dominic Harper. Vocalist/guitarist Liam Holmes introduced “Pain” as ‘a song about suicide’, saying ‘it gets better then it gets worse, then it gets better and it gets worse again’, and encouraged fans to stick it out on their mental health journey. The only song in the set from the band’s debut album What it is to Be was “Misery”, one that is apparently difficult to sing live but was brilliantly executed.
Three members went backstage as Liam explained that a friend had travelled all the way from America for the show, and returned with black and blue balloons. “Bloom” was then dedicated to said friend and followed by emotional deep cut “You”, a tearjerker for Dom’s mum. A surprise moment saw them play a vehement cover of “Somebody Else” by The 1975 and old single “Roses” as a couple slow-danced in the front row then moshed with everyone else to “Conformist”. They saved the best for last, “Everstone” and “Love & Other Drugs” taking fans back before closing with fan-favourite “Deprime”, heightened by confetti guns.
The Comfort have always had a strong sense of compassion in their music and their headline show at The Brightside with Nervous Light and Wifecult proved them to be one of the city’s finest.
