The Zoo was still mostly empty as Pandema came to the stage, launching straight into hard rock with driving drums. Wailing falsetto vocals accompanied some unusual riffs, and the word loud almost seems like an understatement to describe the sound. 

The next song was all about the instrumentals, with the band clearly trying for a prog rock sound as they switched through a range of experimental sounding riffs and beats. Unfortunately it didn’t quite work, with the sound growing stale as the song stretched on and on. The standout song of the set was called “Dark Stuff”, aptly named with dark edgy guitar and vocals that were drawn out in a lamenting wail. This edgy vibe was abruptly broken with a sudden pick up in tempo with some fast guitar that transformed the band’s sound, before slowing down to make room for some epic drums.

Kybosh took the stage next, in what was unusually enough both their LP launch and their final gig, with band members Claire Seabrook and Dan Graver moving to Canada. Typical, you discover a fantastic Brisbane band and discover that half their members are leaving the country. Lead guitarist and vocalist Seabrook (also the guitarist for The Maltese Falcon) really shone in this performance, with deep, gritty, but full sounding vocals, and some mad guitar skills. Graver played the drums with an intense energy that made the music that bit more electrifying. “Hit List” started off with slow, almost whimsical guitars and drumsticks, before picking up speed with Seabrook belting out some long held notes, never losing her tone, while Graver provided backing vocals. “Black Rose” was grungy with sharp vocals, while “Twist Turn Kiss” featured soaring vocals and guitars to elevate you with a smash finish.

By the time the Maltese Falcon kicked off their set, the audience had filled out to around two hundred people. They launched into “Aphrodite’s Insulin”, part of their beloved Goddess Trio, each song named for a different Greek goddess. With clear, full sounding vocals mixing with some serious bass, "Aphrodite’s Insulin" kicked off a set imbued with passion and energy. Vocalist Alexander Ablett danced energetically in between crooning dark deep vocals, while guitarists Seabrook and Dan Brannon had fun with some duelling guitar work. Cultural Wasteland is a slow burning lament about the state of Brisbane’s cultural scene, which I actually found a bit ironic looking around at the numbers that turned out for the gig.

Ablett took the stage by himself for a new song, "Painkillers Are The New Black", which he explained they were still trying to find a way to make work as a group. He sang in a deep melancholic voice beautifully melodic flowing keys that vibrated across the stage, making the drum kit rattle. The lyrics may have said, “I cannot bring myself to weep”, but I wanted to weep a little bit myself from its sheer evocativeness.  It was beautiful done solo, and completely different to the rest of the set. I can’t wait to see what The Maltese Falcon do with it when they find a way to incorporate the whole band.

"Athena’s Orchid" was another standout, gritty with powerful guitars and some great switches in tempo. The band took it to a big finish with "Artemis’ Sanctuary", with Ablett challenging audience members to outdance him as the band belted out the highly energetic number, right til the end when Michael Johnston threw his drumsticks away, and Ablett dramatically collapsed to the floor.