Live Review: The Butterfly Effect, Hammers, These Four Walls

Auckland, New Zealand via Gold Coast outfit These Four Walls open proceedings tonight with a rollicking set of solid, straight-ahead alt-rock tunes, delivered with an exuberance that is truly infectious. The band inject just a hint of glam-rock flair into their sound and stage show, to go along with the moodiness and dynamics of their alternative hard-rock sound, and making for a highly entertaining set that fans of both genres can enjoy.

Brisbane’s Hammers have risen from the ashes of much-loved heavy act Helm, and while Helm are sorely missed, Hammers are doing a ripping job in their stead. Don’t expect a direct ‘replacement’ in a musical sense however – Hammers are very much their own beast. While Helm were heavy, bludgeoning epic rock, Hammers have more of a stomping blues-based sound and a friendly, colourful stage presence. Much of that comes from frontman Leigh "Fish" Dowling, but all four members look like they’re having an absolute ball up there. After an a cappella intro, the thunder kicks in, much of it driven by Rick Trewavas’ monstrously furry bass lines.

The Butterfly Effect are back – bigger, bolder and more beautiful than ever. There are a few more grey hairs to be seen, and the band are ever so slightly less spring in their steps than back in their early to mid-2000s heyday, but their youthful ebullience and hunger has been replaced by experience. When you mix that wisdom and knowhow with majestic songs on a huge stage, you have an extravagant arena-rock experience. 

The setlist is solid, with just about everything you’d want to hear, except for Without Wings and maybe something like Everybody Runs. They play over an hour of favourites, plus their brand new single Unbroken and two adrenaline-charged encores, Worlds On Fire and Room Without A View. The band is tighter and play with more flair than ever, and Clint Boge up front is straight back to superb form, vocally and performance-wise.

This night is a celebration of both this band’s music and their return to the scene. It is so good to have The Butterfly Effect back!