Words by Natalie Blacklock
Photography by Elizabeth Sharpe | @ummagummamumma
It’s no secret that rock and roll is a way of life and let me tell you something for nothing, the new wave of Australian rock and roll is simply next level. There’s a uniquely sexy and exciting swagger about it that I don’t think you fully understand unless you’ve been brought up on it. Bands like Grinspoon, Jebediah and Gyroscope led the way in the 1990s and 2000s but now the ‘new guard’ including bands like Kingswood have cemented their place firmly at the top of their game in Australia and indeed further afield as they move to expand their sound overseas. Now, 10 years on from the release of their first full-length album, Kingswood are back out on the road to celebrate ‘Microscopic Wars’. Drenched in rhythm, carried by the band’s strong chemistry and bolstered by a confidence and swagger seen between Frontman Fergus Linacre and Guitarist / Vocalist Alex Laska, ‘Microscopic Wars’ was not just a launching pad for the Melbourne group but rather the start of a journey for a band whose bright ambition and determination shows no sign of slowing.
Playing host for the evening is The Triffid, which opened in 2014. Situated in walking distance to James Street and the heart of Fortitude Valley, The Triffid is a former World War II hangar that merges its industrial identity with state-of-the-art sound techniques, offering one of the premier music experiences in the city. The Triffid bandroom was abuzz with chatter and the sound of crushed-up tinnies, as punters warmed themselves up with a good yarn and beer in each hand, ready for a night of rockin’ Aussie goodness.
Hailing from Melbourne, Jacob Fitzgerald is first on the bill. Fitzgerald is full of flair as he effortlessly switches between high octane rock ‘n ‘roll, heartbreak ballads and effervescent pop tunes. Backed by his band The Electric City, his distinct vocal tone was accompanied by thundering drums, melodic bass lines and belting guitar riffs right from the outset. As the band kicked into the opening track, Hurt Me Harder, the crowd were loving it, bopping and singing along. After expressing his joy at being able to play a ‘goal venue’ for the band, Fitzgerald led the 4-piece through Long Way Home and Shame On You, both taken from the band’s 2022 self-titled EP, showcasing some beautiful 3-part harmonies between Frontman Fitzgerald, Guitarist Alex Walker aka Rick Hollywood and Bassist Liam Gracias as well as Drummer Angus McKean’s prowess behind the kit. The crowd again got involved on newer track Chlorine, before the band took a deeper dive into latest EP ‘It’s Getting Lonely In Boston Avenue’ with Coffee, Cigarettes & Sex followed by Obsessed, which saw Fitzgerald put the guitar down in favour of a charismatic and engaging sexy swagger that sent the crowd wild. Following up with a huge singalong moment in the form of 2011 Black Keys’ hit, Lonely Boy, the supports were absolutely delivering in their mission of warming up the crowd. Dedicated to the rock ‘n’ rollers in the room, Penny Lane (seemingly named after Kate Hudson’s character from 2000 film Almost Famous) was a highlight. Rounding out the set, one of Fitzgerald’s personal favourite tracks, so-called atypical lovesong, Sophia, and 2022 track Muse, that had the crowd clapping along and begging for more. Jacob Fitzgerald’s knack for hooky choruses and nostalgic composition as well as The Electric City’s slick brand complex musicality balanced with flirty fun was as if the love child of Bruce Springsteen and Harry Styles was coming into its own. After that performance, Jacob Fitzgerald & The Electric City are definitely a band that should be on your radar.
Renowned for pumping out high-energy jams and ferocious, sweat-soaked live shows, Melbourne psych-rockers, The Delta Riggs were next to grace the stage. On the back of the release of breakthrough second album ‘Dipz Zebazios’ in 2014, the band went on to share stages with the likes of Foo Fighters and Kasabian and even had Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page attend one of their shows in London, earning them their stripes as one of Australia’s most celebrated bands. Led by Frontman Elliott Hammond, complete with loud hailer in hand, The Delta Riggs exploded on to the stage in a flurry of fun, funky and infectious energy. Opening the set with 2019 track, Bright As The Sun, Frontman Hammond shares vocal responsibilities with Bassist Michael ‘Monty’ Tramonte, while Alex Markwell shows off his slide guitar skills with a bottle of Jameson Whiskey. The crowd clap along as Hammond unleashed his Harmonica and Retro Birdcage Microphone on Time, taken from the band’s ‘Talupo Mountain Music Vol. I’ 2011 EP. Frontman Hammond proclaimed to the crowd “Okay Red Rover, Move over. It’s’ time for The Delta Riggs to take over” – and take over they did. Money, taken from ‘Talupo Mountain Music Vol. II’ was The Delta Riggs of the early 2010’s in full force; party, swagger and of course Maracas. Quickly shifting gears, the band moved into Stone Hearts, one of the newer tracks of the set from 2023 record ‘The Real Electric’, followed by the super catchy Baddest Motherfucker In The Beehive from 2016’s ‘Active Galactic’ – definitely a song made for dancing! The crowd were keen to get involved in the clap-a-long vibe of Cuts Like A Fox, before it made way for Hammond’s hilarious rendition of what it would sound like if AC/DC did the Hokey Pokey (…if you’re wondering, it sounds exactly like what you’re imagining). Guitarist Jesse Pattison switched into acoustic mode for The Real Electric – a track co-produced by Peking Duk’s Reuben Styles during post COVID-lockdowns in Melbourne. Bursting with the melodic warmth that has made them so beloved by fans around the country, Fake That, from 2019’s ‘Modern Pressure’ was beautifully punctuated by an infectiously catchy Tambourine section courtesy of Hammond. For Don’t Be Lonely, Frontman Elliott Hammond found his way out into the front row for a sing and a dance with some very excitable punters. On his return, the band snuck in ‘HEX.LOVER.KILLER’ cut Perfume & Lace, which paired seamlessly with Soul Train, the first song the band released from 2010’s ‘The Delta Riggs’ EP, with Tramonte noting that this tour was the first time they’ve played the track in 10 years. Supersonic Casualties, taken from 2014’s ‘Dipz Zebazios’ was a familiar bop for the crowd, igniting a cruisy singalong. Following up with another cut from the band’s 2013 debut record ‘HEX.LOVER.KILLER’, was the high-energy Rah Rah Radio, which led to a good old fashioned ‘rock off’ between Guitarists Alex Markwell and Jesse Pattinson. The band soon closed out their set with the jangly and groovy Never Seen This Before, followed by the Sesame Street theme song as the band left the stage and the lights came up. The Delta Riggs have the swagger of party legends, effortlessly combining pop, punk, rock ‘n’ roll and even hip-hop elements into their on-stage personas and their dynamic and entertaining live show. If you haven’t experienced a Delta Riggs show, then you really need to!
Melbourne outfit Kingswood burst onto the scene in 2011 and following the release of three singles Yeah Go Die, Medusa and She’s My Baby, the then 4-piece were supporting acts including The Living End, British India and were the named Triple J Unearthed Winners for a slot at Splendour In The Grass. In 2013, Kingswood supported Grinspoon on their Australian tour (where this reviewer first saw the band) and were fixtures on Groovin’ The Moo, Big Pineapple Music Festival, Golden Days as well as the final Big Day Out festival run. Since then, the band have expanded to a 5-piece line-up and have released six full-length albums (‘Microscopic Wars’, ‘After Hours, Close To Dawn’, ‘Juveniles’, ‘Reveries’, ‘Home’ and ‘The Tale of G.C. Townes’), earning themselves stacks of fans across the country and indeed the globe after supporting the likes of AC/DC and Aerosmith. The anticipation in the former World War II aircraft hangar was palpable as the excitable Friday night crowd waited for Kingswood to grace the stage to play their 2014 debut record ‘Microscopic Wars’ in its entirety. Perched on the barrier directly in front of Guitarist / Vocalist Alex Laska, I arguably had the best spot in the house. Track by track in album order the set rang through, opening with the driving drums and vocals of All Too Much, followed by the gritty and singalong favourite Sucker Punch, aptly punctuated by Frontman Fergus Linacre’s tambourine and driving guitar lines from Alex Laska. Things got heated as Linacre and Laska continued to command the crowd with their honeyed vocals and sexy swagger on ICFTYDLM (I Can Feel That You Don’t Love Me). Micro Wars saw the crowd get involved on the vocals, as Linacre leaned into his multi-instrumental talents on the keys. Guitarist Nick Grey jumped onto the keys as Fergus Linacre and Bassist Jack Davies jammed things out while Laska shredded away on So Long complete with the spoken word album introduction. Ohio, made famous by the band’s 9-minute short film epic music video entitled Some Motherfucker’s Gotta Pay featuring a string of Aussie legends including Seth Sentry, Thelma Plum, Kira Puru, Reg Mombassa, alongside fast cars and a gun-toting gang war, did not disappoint. Even with Laska losing a string mid-song, the pace was frantic and raucous from start to finish. Hours, the shortest track on the record at just 36 seconds was the perfect introduction to Side To Side, quite possibly the heaviest track of the set, punctuated with piercing dark vocals and scintillating drums from Josh Koop. Tremor offered an upbeat change of pace, followed by piano-laden power ballad Eye of the Storm, which felt every bit moody with the stage lighting and the driving bass and keys punctuating every moment. The crowd turned it up with the album’s breakout single, the punchy singalong She’s My Baby. Piece By Piece featuring some intricate Synth work from Frontman Fergus Linacre, flowed straight into the heavy grungy sounds of Chronos to round out the main set and the album.
Kingswood returned to the stage to round out their set with a 5-track encore including the band’s 2011 debut single, the guitar-driven mosher Yeah Go Die. Linacre attempted to get the next track going with some crowd participation – a 1-2-3-4 count to kick into raw and riff-heavy Bittersweet, which the well-hydrated Brisbane crowd needed some encouragement to master. Following up with the dark and moody DZ Deathrays-esque Snakepit, also taken from the band’s 2020 album ‘Juveniles’, the ever-sexy Creepin’ from 2017’s ‘After Hours, Close To Dawn’ and finally the band’s much-loved sophomore single Medusa; a vibrant, slicing, intimidating rush of aural delight featuring an impassioned instrumental outro that undoubtedly solidifies Kingswood’s spot as one of Australia’s premier rock outfits.
The heavy rock riffs, moody melodies and unmistakeable swagger of Kingswood has evolved in their nearly two decades as a band. The genre-bending progression and stylistic arrangement of the band’s work to date represents an elaborate tapestry of not only their individual music tastes but their broad and diverse influences ranging from country and blues music to good ol’ Aussie rock ‘n’ roll. If you’re yet to catch Kingswood live, you’d better grab a ticket – don’t miss your chance to celebrate 10 years of ‘Microscopic Wars’!
KINGSWOOD ‘MICROSCOPIC WARS’ ANNIVERSARY TOUR DATES
** Supported by The Delta Riggs
^ Supported by Death By Denim
+ Supported by Oscar The Wild
Jacob Fitzgerald & The Electric City appearing at all shows
FRIDAY 2 AUGUST – 170 Russell, MELBOURNE **
THURSDAY 8 AUGUST – Coolangatta Hotel, GOLD COAST **
FRIDAY 9 AUGUST – The Triffid, BRISBANE **
SATURDAY 10 AUGUST – Metro Theatre, SYDNEY **
SUNDAY 11 AUGUST – King Street, NEWCASTLE **
FRIDAY 16 AUGUST – Lion Arts Factory, ADELAIDE +
SATURDAY 17 AUGUST – Prince of Wales Hotel, BUNBURY ^
SUNDAY 18 AUGUST – Magnet House, PERTH ^
With thanks to Beehive PR
