Gig review: Gosika and Pipoltr at Wollongong Youth Centre, June 10 2022
IT WAS local band Pipoltr who had put this night’s event together. Three bands soon became two but as they say: the show must go on.
Gosika set the evening up, splitting headbangers apart from the plastics. Although relatively new on the live scene they were propelled up the ladder with brute force and their sheer talent.
After their first ever live performance, Gosika set the social media into death metal viral overload. Within 24 hours most of the Sydney metal veterans had seen live video. Within a week they were getting offers to play on gigs for which others had waited years.
Gosika have matured since playing their first show. They excel in all aspects of their music leaving little – if any room – for error. Their stage presence sets the tone: true stylish attire reminiscent of the eighties, scary vocals and a drummer who could best be described as being totally possessed.
It did feel like this gig was beneath them – at least in my opinion. They are certainly no amateur band and their music was way over the heads and minds of the audience’s age demographic on the night.
As I’d never heard of this band Pipoltr and in fact was invited by them personally to attend, I feel a little uneasy writing what I honestly thought. On the night I was given some inside information which I found to be – dare I say – totally sweet.
Turns out band members had seen Gosika play and were so taken by what they had witnessed they decided to put a band together. Now I can’t confirm this as factual, however if so I reckon it’s bloody awesome.
For our youth to be influenced by other young people rather than some advertised celebrity is truly outstanding. I do also believe that because of this, Gosika agreed to play and help out a fellow local young band. That’s yet another tick in my book. Due to all of this I’ve decided to put my ” mum” review hat on and be softer on the boys.
Piplotr need a lot more time in the rehearsal shed before stepping onto a stage again. Meeting them backstage prior to their set, I found them all to be polite young men …Â somewhat rockstar-ish hyped, excited and more than ready to get out there and show themselves off.
Stage fright did set in. Only after only a few songs were they able to really engage with the surprisingly large group of young fans.
Personally I’ve never been a fan of the mixed vocal style. For me it’s pick one and go for it. The clean vocals are best left for the pop stars. I want mine METAL.
Pipoltr’s frontman should enlist in some lessons – but performance wise he was fun to watch.
Musically I’ve seen a lot better. I have in fact seen worse …Â this band didn’t do anything for me .Other than wishing they would hurry up and finish .. I must stress how wonderful I thought it was that they gave it go, got up on stage and tried their best.
I would hate any band to simply give up because I thought they weren’t my cup of tea, need to learn how to play an instrument and sound like my chihuahua barking at the front door. But I would suggest they put some more time into professional lessons, come out bigger and better and tell me to eat my words.
Call me old-fashioned but last night’s highlight wasn’t the music. It was seeing the next generation of headbangers actually listening, seeing and interacting front of stage –Â kids enjoying music that wasn’t being heard through a device held in the hand.
Several times I forgot I was at my local youth centre. Fans pushed and shoved all fighting for their spot as close to the stage as physically possible.
The last time I remember being there was 1996, witnessing another young local metal band starting out who then went on to support the likes of Fear Factory.
I’ve always pushed for more all-ages shows and this is why. These kids honestly haven’t experienced the full scope of live bands and the raw talent, stage performance and dedication they put in.
However if we can start them off young enough and build their experiences and knowledge it WILL ensure live music never dies or becomes just another live streaming normality.
Perhaps Pipoltr’s singer was a bit too young to fully appreciate what it means having a bunch of screaming adoring young ladies motioning for him to jump but it was quite entertaining and I hope it’s not just the latest fad and these kids do go out and experience as much LIVE music as they can.
