La Dispute – The Tivoli
La Dispute – The Tivoli
Support from Blind Girls and Special Features
Written by Bella Cockle
Photos by Vincent Shaw
Saturday evening saw The Tivoli play host to Michigan’s La Dispute on the final night of their album tour for No One Was Driving The Car. Joining the festivities on all Australian tour dates were Queensland’s homegrown heroes Blind Girls and Special Features. Well before doors had opened, Brisbane showed up with a very generous turnout.
For fans of Tiny Little Houses, Militarie Gun, and dare I say IDLES – Special Features will be your next band to watch. The Brisbane four-piece stepped out with their post punk hearts on their sleeve, attitude and energy on full display. The punchy crescendos throughout the tracks help amplify the band’s purpose hand in hand with their passionate expression and raw lyrics. Even in their slower songs, the grungy Australian drawl of the singers and soft rock guitars pluck a powerful, bittersweet feeling in the listener. The group played a brand-new song “FUN!”; a genuinely entertaining experience watching them bounce around the stage, obviously enjoying their own creation.
Tonight’s addition has officially stretched my memory of the number of times I’ve seen Blind Girls live, yet I am consistently given something new to take away from their shows. This band are a living example of perfecting your art; even in the frenzy of the music and screams, there’s a distinctly refined skill that just compounds as the show progresses and they settle into the stage. If you are new to the skramz genre, you can expect a high octane, volatile environment that is simultaneously a space that encourages liberation and emotional release. The presence of Blind Girls made the generosity of The Tivoli stage feel instead like you were thrashing right next to them in a makeshift basement venue. The instrumentation creates a palpable tension that is decisively cut through with the catharsis in frontwoman Sharni Brouwer’s vocals. In this setting, the group were more powerful and commanding than I’ve ever seen them.
A static-y spoken word soundbite served as a message for the crowd to quieten and pay attention to our final act. La Dispute walked to centre stage and hit the ground running with “I Shaved My Head”, the strong vocals of frontman Jordan Dreyer were audibly spotlit alongside the tambourine clasped in hand. Instantly, the crowd showed no restraint in making the night their own. The local success of La Dispute’s latest album & tour namesake became obvious as Dreyer grinned at the crowd’s engagement from the first tracks.
As the band play through songs like “The Most Beautiful Bitter Fruit” and “Sibling Fistfight at Mom’s Fiftieth”, Dryer casually shifts between guarded whisperings and shouting with his whole chest with flawless control. His capacity to convey a story in such an intense setting, without leaving any opportunity for misinterpretation, is a sight to behold. The preacher-like, staccato pace of the lyrics lassos the audience and paves the path for them to shout each phrase back to the band.
“King Park” quickly turned to equal parts crowd and band contribution with hands in the air across the room, almost trying to push the song back at the stage. The audience’s tank did not empty though as people bounced to the rhythmic drumbeats, bass, and crashing guitars of “Why It Scares Me”. To finish, the band performed the title track of their touring album in an emotional acoustic set. Dreyer met the barrier for “Such Small Hands”, a closer that had people already half out the door trying to avoid traffic deciding it would all be worth it and racing back in to catch the final moments.
La Dispute showcased a well-crafted and versatile setlist that satisfied cravings for six of their most loved records. Between songs, Dreyer took several occasions to speak deeply on the state of the world around us; reminding us that what’s at stake makes it easy for us humans to fall into despair, but also makes community and empathy all the more imperative for us to thrive.
