After returning from their long hiatus with incredible album Requiem, Melbourne favourites The Getaway Plan returned to a packed and incredibly excited crowd at the Hi-Fi Bar. A perfectly intimate setting for an engaging and passionate set from TGP.

Entering the stage in darkness to a screaming crowd, TGP opened with the first two tracks from Requiem, "The Reckoning" and "Phantoms". The room was already alive, with all eyes on eccentric frontman Matthew Wright. Sadly, the sound quality of the night was pretty terrible - the drums and guitars drowned out Wright’s usually flawless voice, meaning the starkness heard on the album tracks didn’t quite work. That said, the band’s performance was faultless, never missing a note despite their incredibly energetic stage antics.

Next up was old favourite "Sleep Spindles", always a hit with the crowd, and tonight was no exception. A few other tracks from Other Voices, Other Rooms were littered amongst the newer tracks; "Shadows" was great to hear live after so long. I was a little disappointed the band didn’t play much from their previous album, and none at all from the Hold Conversation EP.

Wright’s deep screams didn’t really surface until final encore song "Requiem". As much as I would have liked a much longer set, the tracks from Requiem were excellent to hear - a perfectly executed "Move Along" (my favourite of the new tracks) left me emotional and completely engaged. Stripping back to acoustics for the last few songs, Wright with his guitar singing "Oceans Between Us" was a perfect reminder of why this band has such a dedicated following: TGP’s starkly emotive songs have the ability to silence a room and engage every single person in a crowd. "New Medicine" had us all singing back every word to an always grateful and humble Wright. Returning for a brief encore, "Where the City Meets the Sea" was finally played, much to the crowd’s pleasure, and we were all left dying for more.

Despite the terrible sound quality, the tracks from Requiem were just as incredible live as they are recorded. Wright’s beautiful falsetto vocals combined with tight, heavy guitar riffs and flawless drums always make for an engaging and inspiring show from TGP, and they never disappoint.