Review and Photos by Natalie Lorenz Photography
Some records never die and Wake The Dead is one of them. Almost twenty years ago to the day, I first saw Comeback Kid at The Basement in Brisbane during their original Wake The Dead tour, it was also the first band I ever properly photographed. Two decades later, standing in front of them with my camera again for the album’s 20th anniversary tour felt strange and perfect, like coming full circle.
Walking into Crowbar, I immediately spotted many familiar faces I hadn’t seen in years, it felt like a Brisbane hardcore scene reunion.
Brisbane hardcore punk band No Harm opened the night. I hadn’t caught them live before but recognised their guitarist from another local band. They delivered a fun, punchy set and proved they’re worthy of more support slots on bigger tours.
Sydney hardcore mainstays Phantoms followed, delivering their usual audible donkey kick to the face. Their loyal fanbase was clearly out in force, with plenty in the crowd shouting along and throwing themselves into the pit from the first note.
Next up were Gridiron, making the long trip from Pennsylvania for their Australian debut. Their hybrid of hardcore and rap brought a fresh twist to the lineup, and their set was energetic and undeniably fun. With no barrier at the venue, I eventually had to make a quick escape with my camera before becoming the victim of a flying foot.
Then came the band everyone was waiting for, Comeback Kid. Hardcore all the way from Canada and certainly no strangers to Australian shores. At this point, they play here so often they almost feel like honorary locals.
They launched in strong with False Idols Fall before working through Wake The Dead in full, holding back one key track for later in the set. The crowd also got a healthy mix from all across their catalogue, including bangers like Broadcasting and All in a Year.
The crowd was absolutely wild. I stayed planted at the very front the whole time, yelling lyrics between shots and dodging stage dives every thirty seconds. And no, this time I didn’t quite evade a flying foot. I copped one right to the nose, but that’s hardcore, baby.
They closed the night with their title track Wake The Dead, a singalong that felt less like a performance and more like a shared moment between band and crowd, the perfect ending to both the set and the evening.
The energy in the room was undeniable. For a moment, I felt like a teenager seeing them for the first time again. Few bands command that level of involvement and connection from a crowd, and twenty years on, Comeback Kid still demand, and receive, every ounce of it.
— Natalie Lorenz Photography
