SLUGFEST 2 ELECTRIC BOOGALOO: CONCERT REVIEW
Last year I made the comment to War Bear vocalist Ravi that I was going to be calling SlugFest, SlugFest 2025 because there was no way this would be a one time event. He made the joke of "Don't curse me with that" but here we are one year later at SlugFest 2: Electric Boogaloo. Same venue, same phenomenal price of $10 for 10 bands, over two stages and a plethora of talent from around the country, only this time with a one hour
long set for headliners War Bear. There is a huge amount to cover from the multi-genre line-up, so let's jump right into it.
Opening for the night on the inside stage was Meanjin/Brisbane Deathcore band A Call Beyond. While the inside room of Greaser is multi-chambered, it filled quickly, with an energetic and consistently present pit opening in front of the stage. If you have never been to Greaser Bar before you won't know that the inside stage is a long and thin raised platform, just wide enough to fit a drum kit, so band members are mostly relegated to a quadrant of the stage. The band did not let the lack of space impede their performance as the guitarists moved around, power stancing, kicking their feet and head banging along with the music. A Call Beyond has a high level of crowd interaction in their set, although I did have some difficulty understanding their vocalist at points, however that may have been my own fault for being too close to the speaker. "Always a pleasure
to play here." "Fuck yeah Greaser. We love you." "Our next track is a bit of a hardcore track, so I better see some movement. Okay. Can you do that?" "This next song is fucking heavy." "Hard mosh time!" "Fuck yes!" "This next song is also a cover, and we're going to bring it." "This one isn't a mosh track but it is a sing along. Brian, if you could calm the fuck down. This one is from a band called Slipknot." It was at this point that A Call Beyond took on the momentous track of People = Shit, the room erupting into rhythmic head banging, the back up microphone being passed to a member of the crowd to sing-a-long. "One last song. This is a very special song for us." "Yeah this is a song one is about my fight with cancer last year, that I fought and beat. It is also about the game Bloodborne. Actually I am the one who has played it, but I decided to call a whole band after it. This song is called 'Fear the old blood' have a good time everyone." A Call Beyond left the stage with an appeal to support the upcoming bands and to remember to buy merch.
Next up for the night, and first to play on the outside stage was Modern Death Metal band Towers Below. Towers Below revealed part way through their set that SlugFest 2 was their debut live performance, and if they hadn't have said anything, I genuinely wouldn't have realized. The band perform as a cohesive unit, making use of their limited space on stage and pulling in the crowd's attention. While the pit took a few tracks to kick in for the band, once it did it was met with head banging so dramatic that
one viewer's hair almost swept the ground, crowd swaying, dancing and mild pit work. One thing that I could see was Vocalist Tom wanted to step into the crowd, but perhaps (and rightfully so,) nerves held him back. I was waiting the whole set for him to take the plunge and it unfortunately never happened. However, the band were entertaining to watch non-the-less, their set beginning with a guitar solo and "We are Towers Below, get the fuck up here." "Let's fucking go. I want to see some movement."
Towers Below sound was crystal clear with tracks played from their EP Dwell, released in March, and their latest single A World Unmade. "Thank you so much. We're here to warm you guys up, so let's see some movement. I want to see some fucking bodies. Who here is excited to see the mighty WAR BEAR? Fuck yeah! Super grateful for those guys. We're going to play a new one for ya, It's called We the wolves." "That was fucking Sweet. We're here for SlugFest 2. We've still got eight bands after this. Tickets were ten bucks, fucking hell yeah." "Bang your fucking heads, let's go." Fighting past minor technical difficulties, Towers Below finished their first successful set ever with the promise of new music coming soon.
Next, we were running back inside the bar to watch Meanjin/Brisbane Metalcore band Nevergone. The set began with Vocalist Nathan on the pit floor to allow room for the guitarist on the stage, Calls of "Come In, Come In, Come In" from guitarist and Party Rock Anthem by LMFAO intro before transitioning into original material. "Open this shit up." I'm not sure if it was the audio inside of Greaser or the backing vocals/vocal effects on the mic but I was having a lot of difficulty hearing Nathan in
the beginning. The night seemed to be a tester for the bands as the Drummer's inner ear stopped working during the first song. Perseverance being the key to success as Nevergone continued on tackling ambitious covers of Dethrone by Bad Omens and 'Antivist' by Bring Me The Horizon, which had the crowd moving and shouting "here am I" and "I say your a cunt" back to the band. While introducing 'Fucked in the head' Nathan explained that featuring artist Christopher Jung (who was present in the audience) had to pull out of a special feature due to illness, tackling the song on his own to ruckus applause. Nevergone know how to work a crowd, instructing their will upon the group and watching the pit open as patrons pushed each other around, head banged, two-track and danced along to the rhythm. The set rounded off with the band's new track 'Nostrums' and their closing title track of their EP 'Closure'.
Back at the outside stage we were greeted with North Queensland Metalcore band Shell of Me. Shell of Me waited several minutes to allow the crowd to filter in from the maze that is Greaser, partaking in some light banter with a heckling crowd member. It was evident that the crowd was sufficiently warmed up now with the pit moving from the beginning and filling the normally vacant space of the stage front. "We are a band from North Queensland called Shell of Me. Are you ready to have fun with
me tonight?" the Vocalist called stomping into the pit like he owned it. Shell of Me really know how to get a crowd riled up, with over half the crowd jumping at once, the first wall of death for the evening that turned into an enthusiastic push pit, two stepping and a person hanging off the rafters; all while the band matching the crowd energy onstage with guitarists windmills, headbanging and the vocalist and a guitarist stepping into the pit, and a bunch of crowd walks. There was one moment in the crowd which created a scene that has become synonymous with environment of SlugFest for me. One pit goer had his rings fall off while in the ruckus and during the break of songs several members of the crowd helped him locate and pick up the jewellery. While this may seem like nothing, it just shows the calibre of people who attend the event year. Shell of Me kept the crowd going with "You still got energy Brisbane? Are you sure? I can't hear you." and calls of "Enough with the soppy stuff. Who wants another heavy one?" The set had a natural ebb and flow of heavier and softer tracks, showing how thought out the setlist was, coming to finish on the track Clandestine.
Back inside we were greeted with Progressive Metalcore outfit Aeon nexus. With the rooms filling quickly and patrons up to the stage edge, the show was off and the crowd locked in the next round of entertainment. I will admit that I was stuck at the back of a side chamber for most of Aeon Nexus's set so I am unable to give a full recount of the crowd activity, however, what I was able to see through a combination of the shifting motion of the crowd and a strategic angel of my phone screen, were a self
formed wall of death, twice, headbanging, windmilling and dancing as the band performed their hearts out on the stage. Aeon Nexus took the stage by storm with songs such as, Hydra, Final Girl and a rather remarkable cover of Barbie Girl by Aqua. Vocalist Sam turned the night on its head with her operatic cleans and heavy vocal combination while dancing and head banging around the stage; the band matching her intensity as they spun, slapped bass and head banged on the stage. While there wasn't a huge amount of crowd interaction, the energy stayed high and receptive with statements like "Let's get this pit fucking moving" and "Bang your fucking head" pushing the crowd onwards leaving the band "Overwhelmed."
We were outside once more with Gadigal/Sydney Post Hardcore band Lotus Born, featuring War Bear drummer Chris. While there were points in time where it was difficult to hear vocalist Lotus, that didn't stop the band or crowd, with Vocalist and guitarists alike entering the pit many times throughout the set and the crowd filling the floor quickly and apparently ready for mayhem. The crowd graced Greaser with the first circle pit that I observed of the evening along with chaotic and energetic
head banging, two stepping and several multi-gendered push pits. "Bring it in. Let's fucking go" had the crowd moving along to the beat as Lotus stomped along the stage's edge. With little time to chat the band pushed the crowd forward with their energy, one patron using part of the roof structure like a set of monkey bars before the crowd turned into a feral push pit. "Brisbane, thank you very much for welcoming us. Give a round of applause for all the bands tonight." "I better see you fucking moving. This is Public Enemy." With their first Brisbane show under their belt, the band left the stage to ruckus applause.
Running back to the inside stage we were met with Djaara/Bendigo heavyweights Spacegoat, Vocalist Ezz joining the crowd to sing from the pit. "What's up Brisbane! We are a band from Bendigo called Spacegoat. It is our first time here and the vibe is fucking immaculate. Thanks for being so welcoming, Greaser Bar." Spacegoat started their set with high energy, head banging, power stances and dancing, "SlugFest, this is the fucking best." "...this is the furtherest we have travelled for a show and it
is fucking exciting to be here. Big thank you to our friends in War Bear." Spacgoat had the most fluid crowd of the evening, with members moving in and out as the guitarists romed the room, in one instance fully looping the inside labyrinth before returning to the stage. The consistent pit members made themselves known with two-stepping, dancing, head banging and enthusiastic applause. "Look at this room filling up. I know we aren't as heavy as the heavy boys who are here tonight, but you can still run in circles." The "lack" of heaviness didn't stop the crowd from dancing, two-stepping and jumping around as Spacegoat made their way through Miasma, Earthquakes and an unreleased song from upcoming EP. "Take it away tom" led the crowd into a rhythmic sway. "You guys have been fucking amazing. If you like running in a circle this is your last chance to circle pit. Make the most of it." Spacegoat have showmanship down to art, moving like a well oiled machine on the stage and knowing exactly how and when to draw the crowd energy up.
Once again we moved to the outside stage area to witness Gold Coast/Brisbane Hardcore band Insect. If you have never seen Insect play before, you will be amazed by Vocalist Liam's ability to go from the cheeky-love-able larrikan in footy shorts in the crowd to the chaotic gorilla man as he steps on the stage. We have a saying in my household "It is always a good idea to see Insect" and that is purely because of the raw energy and passion for performing that the band exudes. After some adjustments to
the sound we were off and being encouraged forward with "Bring it in. Bring it in. We aren't playing until you bring it in. If you are here this late, you are here to party. We aren't really a pit band, bring it in;" which is honestly a lie, because an Insect pit is normally absolutely wild and unhindered mayhem, and I would be reminded of that fact later as the pit opened up unexpectedly next to me, sending me flying into the poor person behind me. The Insect set was met with ferocious pit energy, patrons falling all over the place in the push pit and being picked up by other pit members, circle pits, head banging, two-stepping, swaying and arms waving as instructed by the band. "Now there's no excuse, when this shit kicks in, we all bob our fucking heads together and have a merry time." We were greeted with an unreleased track, Toowoomba band Deprived Of's singer Tatey featuring on Neanderthal and Vermin in place of Beau Frizzle and Aiden Duke and Runt of the Litter, amongst other tracks. The energy of the set started at level 1000 and remained there for its entirety as Liam cave-maned his way across the stage, the guitarist windmilled, head banged and power stanced and arms flew from one cymbal to the next from drummer Josh.
We were back inside for the final time with our "Sporty shoes" to watch the chaotic Gold Coast Metalcore band Pyrokinesis. Pyrokinesis fell into the unfortunate situation that the microphones had technical difficulties and the damage made Vocalist Skylar nearly impossible to hear; causing a decrease in the normal banter and direction from the band. The band however did not let this get the better of them and they persisted through their set, Skylar jokingly using the back-up mic at the same time as the
lead to try and get more volume to the crowd in front of him. "I am the vocalist now" joked guitarist Max. I first saw Pyrokinesis last year as the opener for Diskust on their tour, and seeing them on the stage as direct support for SlugFest 2 it was like a completely different band. The level of comfort and showmanship has elevated to an incredible degree in such a short time. Pyrokinesis put the crowd to work straight away, encouraging push pits, circle pits and general chaos as Skylar stood up on boxes, held onto the roof and the light fixtures while leaning into the crowd, the crowd eating it up despite the volume issues. "You can hardly tell you have been here for 5 hours getting pummelled by heavy shit." I have to give a shout out to Pyrokinesis's drummer Mason who is always a pleasure to watch, with incredible technique and quite confidence. "You make me wanna do, do the bad bad thing" had us dancing along to Holy Water and Blackout amongst others.
We made our way back outside to witness the set that the whole night had been heading towards, War Bear. With an hour long set there was a lot to take in, so I will try my best to speed run the stand out moments while not making you read for an extra fifteen minutes. If you haven't seen a War Bear performance before (and I honestly recommend that you do if you get a chance to,) it is like a religious experience without the psychosis. With the combination of death pit, sing-a-long and party
environment, it is an experience like no other. Ravi originally told me "You probably don't want to review this one," and after asking why he explained the one hour set list and I am not one to turn away from a challenge so here we are. After past experiences and watching guitarist Pete walk through the crowd in a cheerleading uniform and Ravi in a crop-tee throughout the evening, I knew the night was going to get loose. Ravi is known for crowd walking during his performances, pulling people into pits and getting into the crowd's face. I genuinely lost count of how many times he popped up in the pit, shaking hands, patting backs, pinching nipples and hugging specific members of the crowd as he made his way to the back of the room and towards the stage again. For my own safety I hung back as most of the crowd turned into a pit, with circle pits, walls of
death, crowd surfing and multiple people hanging from the rafters, causing the sound tech to run around asking people to let go of important pipes. I always make the joke if Ravi can climb on something he will and I was not disappointed with him hanging upside down from the rafters, supported by the crowd below on three separate occasions. Encouraged by War Bear multiple women performed their first crowd surfs, along with members of Dead Set Co. with the demand of "Don't make it weird. Don't ruin it for them. Don't. Make. It. Fucking. Weird." The set ploughed on with Ravi saying "You beautiful fucking cunts" as the crowd went wild, Ezz (Spacegoat) getting on her guitarists shoulders with a plethora of other onlookers crowd surfing and swaying to the music. Unfortunately being a part of the vertically challenged club meant it was harder for me to see the stage, however, the times I got a sneak peak through the energetically swaying bodies, I watched as Pete and Brenton screamed the lyrics at the crowd, while joking with specific members, jumping around the stage and causing general mayhem. I am forever impressed with the technical skill
of War Bear drummer Chris, as he rips apart the kit with a smile and effortlessly relaxed energy. Throughout the mammoth set War Bear performed Don't Be Afraid, Hachi Machi featuring Liam (Insect), MISTAKE! and a rather beautiful moment between Ravi and Liam from the pit as they held their foreheads together in a show of brotherly support, BUFFALO, Rathole2Rathole, SLUG GOD, Soy Boy Beta Cuck, YOUR MOVE CREEP and finishing on the crowd chaning track We're Still Here. After screaming for "One more song" the crowd got their wish as War Bear performed Mistake! one more time before ending the set on "I'm tired. Go home." Without fail, every time I have seen War Bear perform I have left feeling like I took part in a Family celebration of music. The energy these four men exude and place over the crowd is the most chaotic fluffy blanket you can imagine; on top of the nurturing and accepting environment for the musicians themselves, War Bear continue to be a stand out in the heavy music scene and I can not wait for SlugFest 3.
All Photos taken by Victoria Love-Rainbow.
You can see the full photo gallery at the link.
If you want to read more about War Bear you can find our review of their latest EP Hachi Machi here, Tomcat concert review here and band breakdown in 15 QLD bands you need to be listening to here.
If you want to read more about Pyrokinesis you can find our review of their single Holy Water here, Blackout single review here, Twisted Lullaby concert review here, War Bear Tomcat concert review here and our chat to Vocalist Skylar in Behind The Mic: Volume I here.
If you want to read more about Insect you can find their band breakdown in 15 QLD bands you need to be listening to here.
If you want to read more about Spacegoat you can find their band breakdown in 15 Aussie bands you should be listening to Vol. IV here.
If you want to read more about Aeon Nexus you can find their band breakdown in 15 Aussie bands you should be listening to Vol. II here.
War Bear will be performing at the Charity Fundraising Event, Rock Beats Depression on Saturday 12th of September at Mansfield Tavern. The event is all ages and free for kids under 12. You can grab your ticket at the link below:
You can find updated information from War Bear at their linktree.
For fans of: Comeback Kid, The Ghost Inside and While She Sleeps
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