Live Review: Filter @ The Triffid, Brisbane

It’s been over two decades since Filter was last here in Australia, and the crowd at The Triffid in Brisbane on Sunday, 7th April, was HUNGRY for it. The Meet and Greet punters streaming out from the doors before everyone was let into the main room kept coming, and the number of old Filter shirts I saw definitely outweighed the new. This was a crowd who were long-term fans. There was no doubt that Richard Patrick et al. were still striking a chord with these folks. Filter had been in their hearts since 1995’s Short Bus, and there wasn’t anything removing them.

Tonight, the Brisbane leg of Filter’s 2024 The Algorithm Tour was supported by the dynamic New Zealand band Black Smoke Trigger, who wasted no time in igniting the crowd with their big muscular riffs.

Their blend of hard rock and metal was tight, taut, and polished – and they were great at what they did. The crowd loved them and ate up their mix of Alice In Chains-meets-Stone Temple Pilots-with-flashes-of-Metallica, so who am I to complain? However, a tiny part of me wished for perhaps a little less grunge/old-school and a little more industrial/electro-rock, maybe even a darkwave artist in support, something newer and different.  

As the lights dimmed and the crowd erupted into cheers, Filter emerged onto the stage, launching straight into You Walk Away, instantly captivating everyone in the venue with Richard Patrick's distinctive vocals and the band's electrifying instrumentation. Richard’s voice hasn’t dimmed over the years, and he still has vocal chops. The physicality of the set was probably a little less active, but the set was excellent. The energy of the crowd and the enthusiasm of the considerably younger-than-Richard-Patrick band members really ensured that this was high-octane stuff.

The setlist was a carefully curated journey through Filter's extensive catalogue, showcasing their evolution as a band while staying true to their signature sound. The newer tracks from The Algorithm found their place among the pantheon of tracks from the band’s now 30-year career (with a break here or there!) and certainly had no less bite or edge to them than anything from Short Bus or Title Of Record.

One of the highlights of the evening was undoubtedly (Can't You) Trip Like I Do, a track that was originally a collaboration with The Crystal Method and from the soundtrack to the movie Spawn (anyone remember that soundtrack? Pairing rock and metal artists with electronic artists?). It was clear that the band were feeding off the crowd's enthusiasm at this point, as a huge cheer went up. I was also reminded that the 90s really was the time of the rock and metal soundtrack to comic book hero movies, as Richard reminded the crowd that Jurassitol was from the soundtrack to The Crow II: City Of Angels.

As the set progressed, Filter delivered hit after hit, from the gritty intensity of Obliteration to the anthemic Take A Picture (a very special song to me that has been there for me in very random moments over the years, so it was extraordinary to close my eyes and let this one wash over me) to the haunting melodies of Captain Bligh. Each song was met with loud applause, underscoring the fact that there really is a profound connection between Filter’s fans and these songs. It had been too long, by half, since they had the opportunity to experience these songs live.

As the band rounded out the evening with Welcome To The Fold and Hey Man Nice Shot, it was a powerful reminder of the staying power of Filter's music and perhaps a real testament to Richard Patrick’s abilities and prowess as a musician, vocalist and lyricist.

He thanked the crowd and reminded them that Hey Man Nice Shot was the song he left Nine Inch Nails to start Filter for. He then reminded the crowd that he loves Trent Reznor and the guys and was recently invited once again to play with them, and he loved every second. He pointed out that he sees lots of Nine Inch Nails shirts in his crowds and on the streets and says they are family.

I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face.