1 February 2024 – The Tivoli, Brisbane – words by Cody-James Henderson – pictures by Bec Harbour
It’s a weird train of thought trying to remember 2003. I’m sure some of you reading this can remember what that year was like or hell, some of you mightn’t have even been born yet (shivers). For me, I was scared 5 year old starting school with a personality shaped by Nickelodeon VCRs. I was still 18 months away from hearing my first Green Day song, but I had just discovered how much I loved the unfavourable 2002 Bon Jovi album ‘Bounce’.
I didn’t know much about anything, especially just how much the landscape of heavy music was changing. The words ‘Prog’ may seem like an up-turned nose when it comes to heavy music (we all know that one Tool fan) but the way it revolutionised the modern landscape of all things metal cannot be understated.
All things considered in a literal sense; I wouldn’t be doing this is I didn’t hear the 2015 Northlane record Node. Northlane wouldn’t have gone down that path if not for a band like Karnivool. And it’s hard to believe a band like Karnivool not being around if not for the band we’re here to see tonight; The Butterfly Effect. (See what I did there?)
The monumental yet still underrated Brisbane Prog-Rockers have been doing this now for well over 20 years (with a small hiatus in the middle there) and their influence cannot be overstated. In celebration of their 2003 debut album Begins Here the band have saddled up for a huge national tour starting with a 2 night sold out stand at the Tivoli. The tour truly ‘Begins Here‘.
Melbourne Emo/Shoegaze outfit Wayside were tonight opening act and It’s a clear reason from the get go as to why they were selected to be a part of such a monumental tour. Whilst the band brings their own unique twist of all things Rock and Pop making it hard to classify them into just one genre, it’s all accompanied by an almost atmospheric sensation that bands like TBE have perfected over decades.
Wayside – Tivoli – photos by Bec Harbour
Whilst recording as a duo, the live act is brought together as a four piece. As vocalist Thomas Davenport angelically floats over the mix almost harmonising with himself as he drops in with the occasional belt, the band behind him zigs and zags from melodic layering into harshly driven choruses that create more of a soundscape as opposed to just musical accompaniment.
Tapping into songs from their latest record What Does Your Soul Look Like? don’t be fooled by the ballad-esque tunes the band may start the set with. The set evolves into a drum and bass driven groove that had even the most seasoned of metal heads (including yours truly) bobbing their heads in unison. A testament to the fact that maybe you don’t have to play your highest energy tracks at the beginning of a set.
Kudos as well to the mixing crew of the night. Being able to distinguish all the layers between live and backing tracks without sacrificing the quality of a performance is no easy task, especially when it comes to an opening act.
“I saw The Butterfly Effect at Festival Hall in Melbourne around 2006. I don’t think I’d had even hit puberty yet, but this is a full circle moment for me” says frontman Thomas. It really doesn’t get better than fans opening for inspirations. If you’re attending one of the many shows on this tour, I would highly recommend getting in early to catch Wayside. But if you do miss out, chances are you will be seeing them more often. At least I hope so anyway.
Before the show has even begun, you can already see just were in for. Strobe light towers stand tall, the drums moved off centre as a giant LED screen fills the background, a large array of spotlights fill every potential void on the stage; this was going to be more than just another set in the history of The Butterfly Effect.
We are entered in the beginning with a video montage of all things 2003. MySpace, Triple J, The Brisbane Lions win again, and of course Begins Here.
No backing tracks required; the band welcomes us in with a live performance of the albums Intro track. As the kick drum hollows out my chest, the crowd is already losing their minds. A silhouette dawns in the light of the LED screen.
“Push me over the edges”
The Butterfly Effect – Tivoli – photos By Bec Harbour
‘Perception Twin’ turns the Tivoli into a feeding ground. The set list will come as no surprise to anyone, but the performance right from the get go will blow your mind. As blue turns to blood red, we dawn ‘Consequence’. As vocalist ‘Clint Boge’ commands the audience from the back of the stage, it feels as if he stands above you. His character presents far beyond the stage, that even sitting to the side and f the venue I feel as if I am front row centre.
‘One Second of Insanity’ is literally all it took to have him join the band at the front of the stage, and for 3 minutes it feels as if this is 2003. The presence of each member defies the time passed. A machine only operates as good as its part, and the machine that is TBE is operating on every cylinder tonight.
“Can I just say you’ve all aged well?” says Clint, which I think is the fairest statement in return to the band. The power TBE has brought isn’t fueled by anything more than the urge to keep doing this.
Taking a different route, the band introduces keys and cellos for a more acoustic version of ‘Beautiful Mine’ under a starlit screen reflected by the audience. Diligently haunting but beautiful. Metal transcends drop tunings and the literal sense of heavy music. Even the most eloquently delivered piece of music can still be ‘heavy’.
The Butterfly Effect – Tivoli – photos By Bec Harbour
Musicianship goes on full display during the intro to ‘Filling Silence’. As bassist Glenn Esmond stands amazed at the captivated crowd, Drummer Ben Hall is still punching through the chests of the Tivoli. But no matter how hard anything hits, nothing takes away from anyone else on the stage. Each and every piece just falls into place with ease.
Clint could’ve taken this next one with ease, but the audience wasn’t going to let him;
‘ALWAYS’
The frenzy that had subsided is back, and this time with a vengeance. It took until Clint began to scream the ever powerful “I am with you always” for him to be heard clearly again as the crowd really took this one over. The smile that covered the faces of the band showed that the enjoyment was being enjoyed on both sides of the barricade.
The Butterfly Effect – Tivoli – photos By Bec Harbour
“This song has not been played in over 20 years” as ‘Without Wings’ comes up, much to the delight of a lady behind me screaming her lungs out as it begins. The reaction it gathers even as the set is no surprise to anyone, begs to question why it has remained out of sets for so long.
In a dusk of red light, ‘Overwhelmed’ is delivered in acoustic format. As Clint effortlessly sits in his head voice, you’re left in this void where it feels as if you’re being directly spoken too. Something about it is just magical. And as ‘A.D’ falls into the outdo, the ‘Begins Here’ chapter of the night has ended.
“Now that the business part is over, let’s rock it.”
The band goes into a career spanning encore leaving no stone unturned. ‘Window & The Watcher’ is met to an explosive reception and the sing-a-longs are deafening. ‘Take it Away’ from the bands debut EP for the die hard fans (and trust me, there’s quite a few of them here tonight). ‘Visiting Hours’ gives the audience a chance to touch on the bands latest (and hopefully not their final) album IV & ‘Reach’ touches on the highly successful follow up album Imago.
As hands hit the sky in unity reaching out to the stage ahead of them, a sold out Tivoli screamed at the top of their lungs how long they’ve been trying reach you. No matter where you joined The Butterfly Effect on their journey, this was a moment to bring us all together.
The Butterfly Effect has nothing left to prove to anyone. After decades together, multiple platinum records and hundreds of shows across the globe, they could settle for what they’ve achieved. But you wouldn’t believe it if you were there tonight. It felt as if a band was trying to make their statement that they still want this more than ever, maybe even more than they did 20 years ago. This wasn’t a show based on a nostalgia trip for a payday; this was a culmination of 20 years and many more to go.
31 days into the year, and I believe I have witnessed the best show of 2024 already; if not one of the best I have ever attended in my life.
