If there’s one thing to be said for the Aussie alternative scene, it’s that the sense of community has never been stronger. Canberra mainstays Hands Like Houses are currently in the middle of their highly anticipated Lótus tour for their forthcoming EP, with longtime friends Dream on Dreamer and local supports chosen from each city along for the ride.
Fresh off the back of new singles “Warning Signs” and “Dead”, the boys kicked things off in their hometown on Thursday before playing Sydney on Friday and supercharging the atmosphere at The Princess Theatre in Brisbane last night with The Local Romance and Nervous Light. Luckily for you, we were there to catch it all.
Local four-piece Nervous Light opened the night with their own brand of self-professed post-hardcore, emerging to a vocal sample about emo music, replete with skinny jeans and Vans. They soon hit their stride with a loyal few and if punters were curious after sad singalong “Coffee Stains & Picture Frames”, then they were sold by the time heavy groover “bitemytongue” activated the pit. Harsh screams and sweet cleans blended over nostalgic punk riffs and contemporary programming to deliver a satisfying mix of old and new.
Next up was Brisbane alt-metal act The Local Romance to keep things moving with chunky riffs and huge drums over dark electronics. The frontman showcased an impressive dynamic range with unexpected growls for the eclectic “Valentine” and brutal “DATURA” complimented by filthy breakdowns and snares with a massive tail. An animated presence saw them jumping around stage in ’90s fashion with the confidence of a band with more than the two years of experience under their belt that their releases show.
The crowd was well and truly warmed up by the time Melbourne icons Dream on Dreamer took to the stage with a brooding intro to punchy opener “Let It In”. It’s evident that these guys haven’t missed a beat despite being in the game for 15 years, demonstrating a skill and maturity that only comes with patient dedication. The showmanship of the drummer was particularly captivating and frontman Marcel Gadacz traded screams for cleans to compliment guitarist Zach Britt’s distinctly raw vocals.
It wasn’t long before the room split for “Surrender” and came together for the bouncy “Love”, with hopeful singalong “Don’t Lose Your Heart” winning over anybody who wasn’t already a fan. New single “All My Life” from their forthcoming album Heavens, out 1 May, was well-received and followed by old favourite “Hear Me Out” in a collision of past and future ambition. Zach had a chance to let rip in the catchy hook of “Stay” and the band went out on a high note with the popular “Runaway”.
When it came to the main attraction, Hands Like Houses toyed with the eager crowd with an ethereal falsetto and picked melody before launching into the energetic “Love & Affection”. If anybody who hadn’t yet seen the band perform with their new frontman was still apprehensive about it, they were quickly convinced by Josh Raven’s powerful vocals and charming charisma. This was cemented by seamlessly transitioning into the groovy “Perspectives”, with stank faces and baseball pitches to go.
Three songs in, Josh had jumped down into the pit and commanded it with the aura of a man who came to spread love and have fun, making it clear early on what the responsibilities of the crowd were. Fresh single “Flowers” went down a treat and “No Parallels” was a delightful surprise, then the band introduced “Hollow” with a wholesome reminder that “you are loved”. A personalised cover of Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game” afforded the room a moment to catch their breath before bringing the Dreamer frontmen out for recent collab “Warning Signs”.
It seemed that they saved the biggest singalongs for the final act, inviting crowd participation for the likes of “Paradise”, “Colourblind” and “The Water”. (On a side note, fans attending future shows on the tour will be pleased to know that the merch includes signed copies of the band’s self-titled EP for $15!) As per tradition, the career-spanning setlist concluded with the seminal Dissonants opener “I Am” and the welcome addition of the anthemic “Heaven”, which afforded a hilariously well-timed accidental mic drop.
It’s clear that Hands Like Houses are at the top of their game and with the sheer volume of music they’ve been putting out lately, The Lótus EP is shaping up to be an absolute banger. The Lótus Tour will continue at Kings Beach Tavern on the Sunshine Coast tonight before heading to Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth next weekend. Get your tickets now because it’s looking likely to sell out!
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FOUR AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Header image credit: Dylan Oxley
