Reviewed on Sunday July 17
Roughly a year removed from their biggest hometown show to date, Sleepmakeswaves have returned to the hallowed halls of the Metro Theatre with a new guitarist – that’s Dan Oreskovic of Meniscus leading the charge stage left – and, in turn, a heightened sense of freshness and vitality. Not that the Sydney quartet has ever been lacking in the live department by any stretch of the imagination. There is, however, a lot to be said for how much Sleepmakeswaves have developed on this front since the release of their excellent 2014 album Love Of Cartography. This is a band that can present a style of music that is – for lack of a better term – not entirely user-friendly to a wider audience, and then have previously unfamiliar listeners completely captivated within minutes.
This much is proven in due course as one fresh convert alerts the band prior to the start of ‘Great Northern’ with a solitary cry of “You guys are sick!” Better that than the bullish neanderthal who attempts a one-man mosh pit later in the piece. With him evicted, Sleepmakeswaves let their actions speak louder, and ‘Something About Avalanches’ becomes an all-encompassing bliss release.
After quietly imploding some six years ago, and a ‘final’ show in Coogee treated as an afterthought, Cog stirred frenzy earlier this year with news that the trio was to ride again. Initial tickets were snapped up instantly, leading to extra dates – tonight included – and a further frenzy of ticket purchases.
The passionate response from those who never gave up the dream has left the band speechless – and that’s not just an expression, either. Vocalist/guitarist Flynn Gower is squeaky and hoarse in the few moments he gets to speak to the fans, calling upon them to sing as loudly as possible to assist him through this final night of their first leg on tour. This is not the type of crowd that needs a second invitation – the choral masses hold their own against a booming PA, routinely drowning the band out. It’s what drives cuts such as ‘Anarchy OK’ and ‘Silence Is Violence’, lifted from Cog’s game-changing 2005 debut The New Normal, as well as ‘Bird Of Feather’ and ‘Are You Interested?’ from 2008 follow-up Sharing Space. These songs still (pardon the pun) resonate in 2016 – perhaps, amazingly, now more than ever. Glory be to Cog.
