By Deb Kloeden, Rock At Night’s Adelaide correspondent in Melbourne
Venue: Max Watts, Melbourne, 30th September 2017
Brisbane’s Progressive Rock band, Caligula’s Horse, is certainly marking its spot in the Australian music scene. Having just released their fourth album ‘In Contact’, they are also touring major Australian centres to celebrate. Keeping up the momentum of releasing an album every two years, the five-piece are cementing a firm place for themselves among Progressive Alternative Rock fans.
Led by charismatic front man Jim Grey, the band are a highly energetic, visually exciting band to see live. Jim is a commanding presence on stage with vocals that range from delicate to screaming in a few seconds. Adrian Goleby, provides classic metal poses and wild long hair flicks, while ripping it up on guitar. Sam Vallen, lead guitar and Dave Couper on bass, work closely together, often in motion synch as well as musically. Although in the shadows, Josh Griffin on drums, keeps it all together with confident, strong beats.
Caligula’s Horse presented several tracks from ‘In Contact’, including the openers Dream The Dead and Will’s Song, which are also the first two tracks on the album. Screaming guitars and heavy drumming, followed by Jim’s angelic vocals in Dream The Dead, was a perfect way to begin.
‘In Contact’ is divided into four chapters, a bit like a book, which emphasizes the conceptual nature of this album. Based on creativity and the nature of Art, it is a work of Art in it’s own right on many fronts, including the highly creative album art.
Their previous album, ‘Bloom’ released in 2015, was hugely popular and the band delighted fans by performing several tracks from this album, as well as others from the 2013 album ‘The Tide, The Thief & River’s End’. This proved to be a winning combination.
Jim’s cultured speaking voice was used to deliver the spoken word Inertia and the Weapon of the Wall from the new album, toward the end of the set. Dramatically lit by a single, angled spot light, the stage changed to a theatre set, emphasising the versatility of this impressive young band.
Sadly, they didn’t play final track Graves, from the new album, which runs for 15 ½ minutes, but they did finish with a Bloom/Marigold meld which gave fans plenty of opportunity to thrash around.
Supporting Caligula’s Horse in Melbourne on their current tour were Branch Arterial and I Built the Sky who set the scene for a great night of music. There are still four more shows to come on this current tour, so catch them if you can.
TOUR DATES
| 28/09/2017 | Australia | PERTH, Jack Rabbit Slim’s | ||
| 29/09/2017 | Australia | ADELAIDE, Fowler’s Live | ||
| 30/09/2017 | Australia | MELBOURNE, Max Watt’s | ||
| 04/10/2017 | Australia | CANBERRA, The Basement | ||
| 05/10/2017 | Australia | NEWCASTLE, The Cambridge Hotel | ||
| 06/10/2017 | Australia | SYDNEY, The Factory Theatre | ||
| 07/10/2017 | Australia | BRISBANE, The Triffid | ||
BAND MEMBERS
Jim Grey – Lead Vocals
Adrian Goleby – Guitar
Dave Couper – Bass/Vocals
Josh Griffin – Drums
Sam Vallen – Lead Guitar
PHOTO GALLERY
Check out their music in the video below:
Video
The images may not be reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without written permission to Rock At Night and the photographer. Use of any image is a violation of the United States and international Copyright laws.
From Darkroom to Lightroom in 4 decades.
Deb is aPhotographer, Music Lover, Ex teacher, and traveller.
- WOMADelaide 2020 truly proved that ‘music is the language of us all’ - March 11, 2020
- Byron Bay Bluesfest 2020 could well break all previous records - December 16, 2019
- The best Beach Party will kick off the New Year in Adelaide - December 15, 2019
