Skip to main content

Words by James Lavel

British heavyweights SOFT PLAY have arrived in Australia in support of their new album ‘HEAVY JELLY’. The 2-piece band previously known as Slaves released ‘HEAVY JELLY’ to rave reviews across the globe in 2024. Songs like Punk’s Dead have become staples, mixing relevant issues with comedy, challenging the unwavering support of archaic views that seems to resonate globally. Joining the line-up at The Triffid, Australian punk-rock legends, These New South Whales.

The Triffid was abuzz early with eager punters ready for a Thursday night boogie. These New South Whales took the stage to a full room seething with energy. They kicked off the evening with Bending At The Knee. The Thursday night crowd began shedding their skin by the second song of the set Under The Pressure. The lads whipped up a steady wave of movement that began infecting the crowd. Front man Jamie Timony shared quality banter with the crowd keeping the vibes up in the room. The bass was tight and punchy, the guitar was jangly and sharp, all kept in place with just the right amount of force behind the drumkit. Couple that with the lighting tech’s skilled show and the crystal-clear sound in the venue. It was a real treat watching this band. They played Space In Hello before stirring the crowd some more with Cholesterol Heart and Broken System.

Jamie told us sweet little lies about how good Brisbane was before jumping to the barrier to share some time with the sweat-soaked front row. They played Meat Hook and Anaphylaxis. Jamie’s vocals were reinforced with such tasteful chorus that filled any dead air.  These New South Wales ended strong with Rotten Sun before closing the set out on the banger Changes.

Twenty or so minutes after they were due, Isaac Holman and Laurence “Laurie” Vincent walk shirtless and sassy, on to the stage. The choir of All Things behind them, Isaac stepped up to the mic, “ooh”. Isaac, (a man with abs you could probably juice an orange on) is an imposing presence behind his standing drumkit. Laurie’s pink silk pants, sick rolls and jumps are equally impressive. Laurie addressed their lateness; Isaac was visibly struggling with a migraine. However, this didn’t seem to slow down their impressively energetic show other than a breather here and there. They kicked into Mirror Muscles and Laurie was already in the crowd, then on top of it. They played Isaac Is Typing… and Laurie was back on the stage then almost everywhere on his back, in the air, back in the crowd.

After five minutes Laurie became my new guitar hero. I quickly forgot there were only two guys on stage, they had such a massive sound and presence. “Last time we were here we played to 250 people” Laurie proclaimed, thanking the room for such an amazing turnout.

Act Violently had the room jumping and the crowd screaming “Hey I’m walking here” louder than the lads through the PA. They finished the track to Isaac telling us “Move out the way Brisbane, I’m coming through”. They both made their way to the middle of the room. Shout out to their crew, there were no wireless systems, and they did an amazing job. Isaac cleared a line in the crowd allowing Laurie to execute a stellar knee slide. Laurie encouraged others to join in on the knee slide action. After a handful of subpar knee slides, Laurie executed his second slick knee slide. Isaac told us a story of how he was always asked where his high-hat was? They played Fuck the High-Hat, Sockets and Spit It Out to a room writhing with excitement.

The room completely erupted when the riff to Punk’s Dead rang out. Isaac’s voice once again consumed by the sing along ensuing. They kept the pace with Worms On Tarmac’s infectious foot tapping groove. Isaac leaves the backing track to the drum duties of Working Title allowing him to share the song with the crowd. They hail Keanu Reeves next with John Wick then It Makes Me Sick. Isaac again walking out into the crowd tells another story. This one is about him walking through the park and seeing two women “having a scrap”, “so I threw my kebab in the bin”. Before he completes his story he calls out some dickhead in the crowd that “needs to exit”. Security quickly remedies the issues. Isaac forgets where he was in his story so he tells everyone to grab a partner.  The room starts to grab partners and dance to the tune Laurie whittled. “This is lovely, Laurie keep making that noise”, “Let’s do a girls only mosh pit”, sure enough a crazy pit breaks out for Girl Fight.

Then, Laurie grabbed his mandolin, and my mates with me threw a shoulder over one another.  “This song goes out to anyone having a hard time”. Everything and Nothing is a powerful song, such potent lyrics about grief and loss. Yet, also about love, and beginning, Everything and Nothing I suppose. Just Issac, Laurie, a mandolin and a sold out Triffid. Word for word the song was propelled right back at the stage by emotive fans. This was one of those rare special moments at a gig, and everyone could feel it. “Kiss ya mates” Isaac proclaims after planting one on Laurie.

We all shake off the warm and fuzzies / crippling sadness and the boys play One More Day Won’t Hurt getting the room moving again. We hear about Isaac’s therapist in The Mushroom and The Swan before they take us on a Beauty Quest. To an all-out circle pit Soft Play ends the night with The Hunter.

Soft Play are such an important band right now. They are bringing punk-rock into back into focus and paving the way for future bands. Wherever you may be reading this, if Soft Play are in your town, go see them. Same said for These New South Whales for that matter. A special mention to Soft Play for including the often left out Perth in this run; 10/10.

Thanks to Good Intent

Leave a Reply

Optimized by Optimole