Live Review: Plini, The Helix Nebula, I Built The Sky, Caution: Thieves

With The Workers Club starting to fill up from 8.30pm this Saturday night, Melbourne-based Caution: Thieves takes the stage. The only band on The End Of Everything tour to have a vocalist and quite a different sound than the rest of tonight's bill, they are met with a reasonably cold reception. Nicholas Simonsen hurls his voice through the mic as he periodically jumps off stage and high-fives some of the punters. The band are reminiscent of At The Drive-In, but with some serious technical proficiency by Stuart Pearson's six strings. Caution: Thieves play songs off their recent EP The Same Sky; overall it's different, but really enjoyable.

Local lad Rohan Stevenson steps up fronting I Built The Sky, who show off very technical prog with intricate punk influences. This really sets the standard for the remainder of the night. There is no movement in the crowd; everyone is just standing and watching in awe as Stevenson's fingers dance down the neck of his blue PRS. It's an outstanding display of musicianship considering this is only the second time Stevenson has played live with the rest of the band.

Sydney's The Helix Nebula appear and are straight into the finger-mangling riffs we are expecting. They deliver an extremely heavy set with disorienting time signatures, pulsating grooves and lead melodies flowing over a now tightly packed audience. Convalescence an obvious favourite among the fans as movement increases.           

The crowd then erupts as Plini wanders onto the stage and awkwardly says hello to everyone. Just before the second song Heart gets under way, Troy Wright breaks the hi-hats. Plini makes a joke about him going to the gym too much and everyone laughs; the whole set is full of smiles and funny cat stories. His wit and light-hearted nature are as enjoyable as watching him play that gorgeous Strandberg. Selenium Forest and The End Of Everything come about halfway through the set and the audience is absolutely captivated. Away and Sweet Nothings round out this phenomenal display of jazzy atmospheric fury. A wave and a heartfelt thank you to the crowd and the young talent is done with Melbourne, for now.