Hands Like Houses + Agnes Manners @ 170 Russell 04-02-21
words & photos: Daniel Hanssen @danthegigman
Review
“..By this time, the crowd was truly in the centre of an energy hurricane..”
For many of the live music faithful, February has come as sweet relief with shows finally back in the proverbial town. For myself, it’s been an interesting time without music in its purest form, constantly thinking about but never being able to get my ears on it.
What looked to be a two-hundred odd strong crowd, both Hands Like Houses and Agnes Manners would have been a welcome first performance back. Having released their debut album throughout Australia’s lockdown, Melbourne Folk-Rock quartet would have been excited to open up for Hands Like Houses in their hometown. It was a visceral emotion from lead vocalist Matt Gravolin & the rest of Agnes Manners pulling a set out that matched the intensity of Hands Like Houses with a mellowed edge of their own.
Strong live showings of album Fantasia Famish favourite, “As Long As Your Mine” & new single, “Green Elvis” set up a scintillating atmosphere as the electric energy of being back at a live performance made the room feel alive between the two sets.
Hands Like Houses were equally as excited to be back on stages in Melbourne but wanted to warm everyone up before really bringing the heat down on 170 Russell. The set (or sets), as one could imagine, was built around this idea essentially building a tale of two sets.
The first half was mellowed slowly building toward “Introduced”, and “Through Glass” while the second was -strong- right off of the bat having “Shimmer” open it and immediately leading through, “Division Symbols” and “Dangerous”.
By this time, the crowd was truly in the centre of an energy hurricane, both the mood of the band & lead singer Trenton Woodley was contagious with the dancing & singing crowd a welcome reminder of everything the music industry has had to overcome leading up to performances like this.
“Monster” and “The Water”, finished off the second set with “The Water” causing the mood in the venue to hit fever pitch before the classic walk-off led into one more song; “I Am”. Overall, the show was a perfect welcome back for music in 2021, Hands Like Houses pulled out all the stops in the best way, they kept the formula simple, leaning on album favourites from across their nine-year discography and constantly churning the energy to boost the room’s atmosphere to its MAX.
It’s going to be a fun 2021.
Full gallery below
