Being no stranger to the Metro Theatre, I somehow managed to find myself in unfamiliar territory as I received the green light to not only attend the gig, but also submit a review based on three local acts that I knew very little about.
I immediately began to expect the unexpected.
It started off with a slight hiccup on arrival; however, I eventually settled myself into the middle of the front row and played the waiting game.
Soon enough, I Know Leopard emerged and once the first bar was played, my ears were tightly wound to the crisp and controlled sound that permeated throughout the venue. In particular, I became aurally captivated by the guitarist as each strum pleasured the senses and brought me back to that classic 70s rock sound. Although their stage presence may not exactly be enthralling, I Know Leopard makes it up in production. I highly recommend seeing them live. These guys are going to be big someday. I just know it.
Next up to the plate was Gold Fields and in a split second, we see them move in a highly rigorous and extreme manner. It felt like I was witnessing a high-energy jam band, as drums were being thoroughly pounded and the band members’ bodies were flung around like they lost themselves. In the final number, the destruction continued as the vocalist thrashed anything in his way, even swinging the microphone around his head and almost taking out a photographer in the process. It was slightly intense, but a spectacle nonetheless.
As the overcrowded venue waited patiently and in anticipation, Miami Horror arrived fashionably late and kicked things off with “Soft Light”, providing a platform of familiar ground to those like myself. The opening number also unleashed the dazzling demeanour of Josh Moriarty (guitar and vocals), whose flair and charisma commanded all eyes… and ears. His delivery of “Moon Theory” showcased a delightful demonstration of falsetto, enough to warrant a guy behind me to exclaim to those around him, “He’s the man!”
The masses eventuated in physical response after the foursome craftily blended an entertaining trifecta of “Echoplex”, “Summersun” and “I Look to You”. After a brief interlude, the room erupted into exhilaration as hit song “Sometimes”, followed by party anthem “Holidays” were played, easily making the two singles the highlight of the setlist.
With a deafening plea to continue, it became apparent just how hyped up the revellers were. Ultimately, for what was to be the encore, the synth-pop showstoppers broke out into “Imagination”, another crowd-pleasing track. The outro was a collaborative effort, as Gold Fields were welcomed back for an instrumental extravaganza, featuring drums in the foreground and guitars playing a minor role. Perhaps a bizarre twist to the finale was when the young crowd struggled to keep their man of the hour afloat when he took to a stage dive. Needless to say, Josh returned to the stage unscathed. All’s well ends well, as they say.
With enough cowbell to rival The Rapture and guitar riffs to resemble Ratatat, the electro-pop outfit from Melbourne certainly has a force to be reckoned with as they embark on a national tour across the United States with supporting act, Gold Fields, in tow. They will remain stationed abroad as they write and record new material for the next album in September.
My advice for Miami Horror is to embrace the unexpected.
