'Crushing As Hell': Southeast Desert Metal Cut From Ghost Melb Show

Southeast Desert Metal – the “most isolated metal band in the world”, as they describe themselves – are currently touring the east coast supporting Ghost, playing some of the most prestigious venues in the country on their biggest run of shows to date. But due to delays in setting up the Ghost’s (insanely complex) stage production, the trailblazing band were forced to cancel their set on the Melbourne (Naarm) date.

The show itself went down at John Cain Arena last night (October 4), with Southeast Desert Metal scheduled to perform at 7:30pm. Their set was axed from the itinerary, though, to account for the extra time needed to get the stage ready for Ghost.

To make up for the missed gig – an especially crushing blow given how far the band travelled for it (they’re based in the remote Arrernte community of Santa Teresa, an hour's drive from Alice Springs) – Southeast Desert Metal have lined up a last-second headline show at The Bendigo Hotel. Supported by Primitive and RUN, the gig will go down tonight (October 5) with doors at 8pm and tickets available here.

The show was organised by RUN’s Lochlan Watt, who recently took over as Southeast Desert Metal’s booking agent. In a Facebook post, he said the situation was “crushing as hell for all involved”, and noted he booked tonight’s gig “to make sure they didn't travel all the way from the middle of the country to Melbourne for no show”. In closing, he asked of his followers: “Spread the word and come on down to witness the one and only true Australian desert metal experience.”

Speaking to Kill Your Stereo, frontman Chris Wallace said of the spontaneous gig booking: “We were sad we didn’t get to perform last night, but we’re going to make the most of it. It’s a long way to be here from Central Australia. We want to make it up to the fans and meet them in one of Melbourne’s iconic venues. We’ve got lots of new songs to play. It’s all happening so fast, I’m a bit lost for words. But I hope lots of people can make it down and the rock the house with us!”

Thus far, Southeast Desert Metal have performed one show on the Ghost tour, being the first date in Eora/Sydney on Tuesday (October 3). Wallace says the band had a blast at the Qudos Bank Arena gig: “It was unreal! We we’re hyped up, really excited to play. In the lead up we were pretty nervous, but the crowd cheered us on and helped us relax. The crowd were awesome. They were into it, digging the riffs and their screams were deafening. We even got an encore. It was probably the most fun we’ve ever had at a show.”

The band will wrap their tour with Ghost up in Meanjin/Brisbane this Saturday (October 7), when both bands will perform at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.

In reviewing Southeast Desert Metal’s set at the Sydney show, Alasdair Belling wrote for Kill Your Stereo: “It was special to see this feel-good story of Australian alternative culture make the step up into arenas... While at times the stage threatened to swallow them up, frontman Chris Wallace was all smiles for the duration of their tight set of traditionally fused power metal.”