28 November 2023 – Eaton’s Hill Hotel Ballroom, Brisbane – words by Gabrielle Ross – pictures by Nicole Matthews
Good Things 2023 week was only just getting started and punters were chomping at the bit to get rowdy on this muggy and gloomy Tuesday evening as they packed the Eaton’s Hill Ballroom for the I Prevail and The Plot In You Brisbane sideshow!
The Plot In You kicked off their short but sweet set with ‘Divide’ followed by ‘Paradigm’. A few small tech problems barely held these boys back as they powered through, flowing into their coveted and emotionally wrought song ‘Face Me’, with punters shouting along to every word. Powerful percussion from Michael Cooper (Drums), heavy and dirty bass by Ethan Yoder (Bass) and signature riffs from Josh Childress (Guitar), brought The Plot In You’s uniquely cinematic sound to the Eaton’s Hill Ballroom. Lead vocalist Landon Tewers, flexed his vocular skills, transitioning between gritty screams and smooth, emotive clean vocals flawlessly. Splitting the sea of fans down the middle for a wall of death, Tewer’s introduced punters to one of the band’s newer songs, ‘Forgotten,’ and all hell broke loose in the mosh pit!
‘THE ONE YOU LOVED, NOT JUST BREATHING’ and ‘Left Behind’ brought a change of pace with a taste of the band’s more melodic fantasies before ending their set strong with ‘FEEL NOTHING’ as fans screamed their hearts out to the cathartic lyrics. If you get the chance to catch The Plot In You for their intimate side show in Melbourne on November 30th or at Good Things 2023 Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, it is truly an experience. Haunting melodies, emotionally charged lyrics and distorted riffs make for a romantically cathartic yet heavy show that you would be kicking yourself for missing!
“GET ON YOUR KNEES AND BOW DOWN!” screamed Eric Vanlerberghe (Heavy Vocals) as the Eatons Hill Ballroom erupted into chaos to the heavy intro of Bow Down. I Prevail have arrived and they need no introduction! Following ‘Bow Down’ with the heart palpitating ‘Body Bag’ they barely allowed fans a moment of repose before Steve Menoian (Lead Guitar) pumped out the iconic riff to ‘Self-Destruction’! Fans were going wild before being happily thrown into ‘Bad Things’ and ‘Come and Get It’!
Fast blast beats and tight tempos from drummer Gabe Helguera and the heavy rhythms courtesy of Dylan Bowman (Rhythm Guitar) perfectly accompanied Menoain’s electric riffs and the immeasurable stage presence of frontmen, Vanlerberghe and Burheiser. I Prevail had set their sights on blowing the roof off the Eaton’s Hill Ballroom!
Brian Burkheiser’s vocals shone strong and passionately with the moving song ‘Hurricane’, clearly a fan favourite, as the soundscape again filled with a chorus of voices screaming along with every word. ‘There’s Fear In Letting Go’ was closely followed with a fun cover of ‘Chop Suey’, before I Prevail hit fans with ‘FWYTYK’ and the more emotionally melodic ‘Breaking Down’ and ‘Deep End’.
Switching it up, Vanlerberghe called in the punters for a “circle pit around the front of house!”, as the pit swirled, an aggressive riff began the end of I Prevail’s powerful set with ‘Judgement Day’, ‘Choke’ and ‘Scars’ before kicking off their insane finale with ‘Gasoline’! Vanlerberghe prowled at the front of the stage calling for Brisbane “to get belligerent, to get f*ckin’ stupid” and “to show us why we should hurry and come back” and Brisbane gleefully obliged!
I Prevail doesn’t mess around, effortlessly delivering an impressive display of professional rock at the top of its game. Gracing fans with a monumental setlist packed with savage breakdowns, freeing lyricism and heroic pop fuelled melodies, I Prevail provides the perfect blend of the light and dark sounds that would satiate the appetite of any genre of music lover! If you missed their Brisbane sideshow (are you kidding me!) you can catch these monoliths of rock at Good Things 2023 in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane but be prepared, “It’s about to get rowdy!”
