Gallery, ReviewDitch This MagazineJune 30, 2023gallery, live, melbourne, Odin Imaging, Nathan Goldsworthy, odin imaging, forum melbourne, Jennifer Rouse, The omnific, Polyphia, The Pheonix

Polyphia + The Omnific @ Northcote Theatre 29-06-23

Gallery, ReviewDitch This MagazineJune 30, 2023gallery, live, melbourne, Odin Imaging, Nathan Goldsworthy, odin imaging, forum melbourne, Jennifer Rouse, The omnific, Polyphia, The Pheonix

photos: Nathan Goldsworthy @odin.imaging
words: Jennifer Rouse @a.rousing

I’m going to level with you - the sold out Polyphia gig at the Northcote Theatre was crazy good. Like the last chip in the bag, fresh sheets, first kiss kind of good. From the constant stream of crowd surfers, a wall of death, mid set snackies, and a game of sing that riff - Just to touch the tip. The line at doors had circled the venue block and if you happened to get your hands on some sweet as merch it's now basically gold since everything sold out instantly.

The venue was packed from the get-go with The Omnific buttering up the crowd.

An Ode to Omnific:

The Omnific, their sound so terrific!

Thick and delicious, their music very specific.

Manes were ridiculous, slick and auspicious.

Remember That You Will Die is an album that has no b-sides, so Polyphia kicking the set off with Tim Henson coming out of the haze with ‘Genesis’ was the only right way to keep the universe aligned. Smooth, brassy, and completely hot under the collar. It wasn't until 'Goose' that things got extremely loose in the crowd! Scott LePage was getting bodies on that wave faster than his fingers on a fretboard.

It is very easy for musicians (and most creatives!) to strike a vein and then try reinventing their own wheel over and over again. It’s entirely another situation to keep expanding, incorporating, collaborating and experimenting on what has been created in the past whilst also holding true to a core. Polyphia are a prime example of what happens in the latter scenario when you hit the mark on all accounts and then some.

Their sound is genre fluid, free-forming, and around every riff-tastic corner you get hit with something quite unexpected - but once you hear it you wouldn’t change a thing. The way they are pushing and pulling at the progressive rock sound is also so much more accessible to new listeners. It's fun and invites you to be a part of it. Almost egoless and definitely a good fucking time.

If Polyphia ever make it back to the big AU any time soon, I hope they bring along with them some of the featured artists from their album Remember That You Will Die. Namely Sophia Black! ‘ABC’ Live would send us skyward for sure. Someone call a paramedic! Maybe sneak Steve Vai and Chino Moreno into the country in a couple of the guitar cases for good measure? Could you imagine! We’d need an arena upgrade.

Back to reality *sigh* and ending the night with what felt like a triple encore we were sweaty, energiser bunnies. Screaming, stomping, and on the verge of offering up human sacrifices for more. Polyphia bid us adieu with crowd favourites ‘Playing God’, ‘G.O.A.T’, a CKY cover of '96 Quite Bitter Beings', and ‘Euphoria’.

So long, and thanks for all the riffs!