HEADLINER: SUNK LOTO
SUPPORTS: RED BEE / OCEAN SLEEPER
DATE: NOVEMBER 4TH 2023
VENUE: THE TIVOLI, BRISBANE
REVIEWER: HEAR 2 ZEN
PHOTOGRAPHER: ANDREW TREADWELL PHOTOGRAPHY
Sunk Loto are OFFICALLY BACK. Formed on the Gold Coast, in97. The band’s are celebrating Between Birth and Death, which was their second studio album. Released in November 2003, it reached No. 48 on the ARIA Albums Chart, but quickly achieved cult status amongst their loyal fans. The group called it a day in December 2007, and after a 15-year hiatus the original members re-formed the band in 2022. In 2023, Luke McDonald was fired from the band and replaced with guitarist Rohan Stevenson (‘I Built The Sky’) and the band released their first single in 20 years “The Gallows Wait”. Which takes us to last night
at The Tivoli
Red bee kicked things off, making the trek up from The Blue Mountains. Made up of Daniel Silk (vocalist/guitarist), Jim Silk (bass) and Ian Dunn (drums), the boys got straight to business kicking off with
Gutter Christ, Dead Inside, and Chasing Shadows. Some great powerful riffs and tight playing set the night up nicely. Chokehold is an absolute stand-out for mine, thanks for starting the night right, boys
Ocean Sleeper have been putting in some miles and are building quite the following, which has also landed them a slot on the upcoming Good Things Festival. They play each show like they are the one on the top of the bill, which is a good things as it keeps the headliner on their toes. They really know how to work the crowd and also made sure to make good on their promise of manning their own merch booth to meet the fans after their set. I was sitting close by and I must say they are truly thankful for each person that supported them last night. Humble, and talented.
The moment everyone was waiting for came. Sunk Loto built the atmosphere, by dropping the Tivoli’s stage curtain down which is rare to see, but also projecting their logo onto it. It set the scene perfectly.
While the inner turmoil for the band played out in public, Rohan Stevenson fits in perfectly, plays the songs faithfully but has his own tone, which adds to the overall experience. Love the fact this one was also an all ages event so you had some parents handing down the live metal torch to their kids, and The Tiv is a great place for the youngsters to see a great band with a great production in tow. The band ripped through Between Birth and Death in full and then also came back to do 3 more classics as well as their newest track The Gallows Wait, which fits in seamlessly. All in all, its great when you see a band come back, and not just pick up where they left off, for the sake of nostalgia, or money, but actually try and better their past. Will be interesting to see where the band heads from here as their could be exciting times for Sunk Loto Fans
SET LIST
5 YEARS OF SILENCE
FALL APART
EMPTY AND ALONE
HELP
STARVED
EVERYTHING EVERYWAY
BURNING BRIDGES
INSIDE
PAST TENSE EXPERIENCE
PUBLIC IMAGERY
ERASED
SOUL WORN THIN
THE GALLOWS WAIT
VINGEAR STROKE
SUNKEN EYES
LIFT
