Gallery, ReviewDitch This MagazineFebruary 03, 2020gallery, live, melbourne, Gallery, Review, Bastille, Max Frost, Evie Irie, Sidney Myer Music Bowl, SMMB

Bastille + Max Frost + Evie Irie @ Sidney Myer 30-01-20

Gallery, ReviewDitch This MagazineFebruary 03, 2020gallery, live, melbourne, Gallery, Review, Bastille, Max Frost, Evie Irie, Sidney Myer Music Bowl, SMMB

review & photos: Lucas Hackett @lucas_packett_photography

Review

***“..Dan Smith*** *had extraordinary energy radiating from the stage which is contagious with one and all..”*

It is fitting that it is a warm Melbourne evening which sets the scene perfectly at the beautifully apt Sidney Myer Music Bowl to experience the magnificent British indie pop act Bastille on their Doom Days Part 2 Tour.

Warming up the sparse crowd on the sizeable lawn, is Sydney-sider Evie Irie offering her alt-soul-pop complemented by a tight three-piece band.

Following on soon after and timing his set with the fading sun is Texan Max Frost. Playing solo, Frost bounded from drums to guitar to keyboard looping and triggering sounds (including a reel to reel tape machine) all the while producing heart-felt soul crooning vocals. Oscillating between R&B, blues and soul, layering hip-hop beats and glitchy electronic soundscapes, Frost did a fine job in his role as warm act for the headliner.

Emerging from the darkness not long after, Bastille command the stage, with sound, color, light and movement. Opening with the first single from the groups third album Doom Days, Quarter Past Midnight has a huge crowd reaction, diligently followed by Send Them Off and Icarus.

Playing songs predominantly from Doom Days and splitting the show up into two ‘acts’ , we also were offered a good slice of tunes Bastille’s back catalogue – 2013’s Bad Blood and 2016’s Wild World.

The wide and cavernous stage at the SMMB proved to be a perfect podium for the band to spread out on, swap instruments, launch off risers and all arranged around a substantial screen serving to parade a myriad of beautiful images, lyrics (for those who wanted to sing along, but didn’t quite know the words) and transitory videos.

Visibly happy to be playing to a packed house, lead vocalist and Bastille forefather, Dan Smith had extraordinary energy radiating from the stage which is contagious with one and all and relishing what is to be, so far, a standout performance for 2020.