LIVE REVIEW: FULL FLOWER MOON BAND + HYPNOSIS THERAPY + PARTY DOZEN + KNEE @ THE TIVOLI 18/07/26

Words + Photos by Cecilia Pattison-Levi

The Full Flower Moon Band are navigating their own course. It was wonderful to see them take the Tivoli by storm as the homecoming gig became an overgrown house party.The Full Flower Moon Band sold out the Tivoli! Hooray! And about time that Brisbane music fans got fully on board with this exceptional group of musicians. The 13 photographers in the pit also told the story.

Brisbane's Full Flower Moon Band are one of the best, and most inventive bands in Australia. They are totally exciting. The band play to thousands of fans overseas but have lamented the fact that they have never played a headline tour of their own at home, at the Tivoli. As the song ‘NY-LA’ says: “If everyone buys a ticket/ we could play the Tivoli”. Well, Open Season “asked if we wanted to make that line come true”, stated Kate “Babyshakes” Dillon. The gig was planned. I bought my ticket, like as soon as they went on sale. I wasn’t missing this homecoming.

The Tivoli and Full Flower Moon Band curated a concert experience with such dynamism and diversity that it was unique. The night was scheduled with local punk-rock band Knee, the inventive and extraordinary Sydney band Party Dozen, followed by Full Flower Moon Band’s performance,and then the party really kicked off with the imaginative and creative South Korean duo Hypnosis Therapy.

The party got started with the three-piece band Brisbane Knee. They brought the mosh, the hardcore and garage punk sounds to the Tivoli crowd. Knee consists of Riley Burrows, Aspen Burrows and Jarrod Andrew, and as a band they brought the ruckus. Their use of complicated guitar riffage, slamming drums, with guttural vocal duties shared as a three-piece, created an energetic and fast-paced hybrid punk-metal sound. They launched the night with ‘Hellbound’.

There was little chat as Knee let us know in song that ‘Its Alright’ as the fans got ‘Sweaty’. The mosh had a few thrills and spills as ‘Damage’ hit. Knee encouraged the crowd to have even more fun as they blasted through ‘It’s Gonna B’ and ‘Speedhog’. The crowd thrust straight into the front barrier (and I was standing there) as the last two songs were delivered in ‘F**k C’ and ‘Waiting 4’. It was a fabulous set!

After a short turnaround, it was time for the second band to take the stage: Party Dozen. It is at this point that you wonder how many complex sounds a duo can get out of one saxophone and a drum kit. Well, let me tell you - lots.

The incendiary duo Party Dozen consists of Kirsty Tickle (saxophonist) and Jonathan Boulet (drums). Their musical style is amixture of jazz-rock, industrial, no-wave sonic soundscapes. Their songs are a mixture of structured and improvisational performance. Party Dozen really brought the party vibe with their distinctive sound as they revved up the crowd. The crowd reacted with bouncing in the mosh and headbanging along to the sonic environment.

The blending of the saxophone and drums is just so unique. Party Dozen’s set was visceral, with intense and controlled chaos. Kirsty Tickle’s rasping saxophone with her effect octave pedal added reverb and a digital delay to create synth-like, ambient, or her massive solo sounds. Jonathan Boulet's powerful drumming was the control centre of their own rhythmical storm.

Party Dozen’s song highlights were ‘Mad Rooter’, ‘Money & The Drugs’, ‘The Iron Boot’ and ‘Wake In Might’. What is amazing about Party Dozen is their ability to take the crowd on a sonic journey full of joyful surprise and amazement. The dense music performed and displayed was wondrous and full of musical humour. It was a sophisticated and totally dynamic set!

Then, after the Open Season sign lit up, the stage was dressed. The curtains were drawn and the sold-out crowd waited. There was a box above the stage and white curtains. There was much speculation about confetti, streamers or balloons. We were all wrong. It was a white cloth ribbon design, like a stream of thought. It was beautiful!

The Full Flower Moon Band walked onto the stage, and Kate “Babyshakes” Dillon stared out at the crowd as she strapped on her trademark black Telecaster Deluxe and acknowledged the full house with a huge grin and a few waves. The band launched straight into musical life and immediately started kicking goals as they delivered the ‘Power’. Then, the rock ‘n’ roll bassline assault of ‘Devil’ highlighted the Brisbane ‘West Side’ sound of the band as these songs were performed in narrative succession.

This band are just amazing, and the talent on display is just awesome. Full Flower Moon Band comprises of Luke Hanson (drums), Caleb Widener (guitar), Christian Driscoll (guitars), Marli Smales (bass and vocals) and Kate “Babyshakes” Dillon (guitar and lead vocals), with her impressive songwriting skills and stage presence. Each member is a vital part of this tight band, as this allows the extraordinary frontwomen: Kate “Babyshakes” Dillon and ice queen bassist Marli Smales, to do their thing.

Over the last few years, I have witnessed Full Flower Moon Band play support sets, festivals and watched them grow into an international band. They are winning with their knockout style everywhere they go and perform. There is no more ‘Trainspotting’ or ‘Sleep’ for them, as their vision for the band is now being fully realised. It was at this point in the set, that Kate “Babyshakes” Dillon addressed the crowd and welcomed family, friends and fans, (old and new) to their Tivoli homecoming gig.

There was interaction between the crowd and the band as Kate Dillon asked: “Are you pre-guessing the setlist?” as she, then, changed the setlist order for a song dedication to friends at the barrier, and the fabulous ‘Baby’ was delivered with real class. Then, Full Flower Moon Band got stuck into delivering their songs, with hits and fan favourites such as the smoky and divine ‘Illegal Things’, the sexy ‘Man Hands’, the dark ‘Enemy’ and ‘Come & Be’ were performed with harmony, plus shake, rattle and roll!

Kate “Babyshakes” Dillon asked us: “Well, did you like that?”, and the crowd roared back a definitive “Yes”. Then, the huge fan classic, the blues-laced ‘New Rocket’, was played, and the crowd went off! The first of the crowd surfers went over the barrier, and the mosh pushed forward and bounced. The “sing-yell” along was on. I was lucky to be standing near Gracie Lou, (of fantastic Brisbane band Stahr) who can sing, and I could hear her beautiful voice in my ear.

The key to Full Flower Moon Band’s sound is the tight drumming of Luke Hanson and the guitar styles that interweave into unique chord progressions and sounds. Christian Driscoll with his arpeggios of targeted chord changes and melodies. The other straighter six-string melodies, of Caleb Widener. This twin guitar attack when added to Kate “Babyshakes” Dillon’s jagged guitar lines, makes for an even more potent sonic soundscape. Then, add the huge, and dark swagger of Marli Smales bassline in lockstep with the drums, and you get it.

The songs with those attributes kept coming with ‘Crossroads’, ‘Waiting’ and then the song that has that line, the dark ,swampy blues riff and swagger of ‘NY- LA’, was performed. Marli Smales’ bass sound hit the crowd in the chest. It’s such an honest song about the seedier side of touring. The crowd yelled the lyrics back to the band in pure joy as more crowd surfers went over the barrier.

The last part of the set was here. The intelligent and socially insightful ‘Female Mechanic’ was performed. Then, the opus ‘Hurt Nobody’ followed: the song has a dark, dangerous and subversive heart and a slithering bassline as the guitars cut over the top. The set ended dramatically with a statement: “It’s the last song.” Time had just vanished. The chords for ‘Roadie’ were played and it felt like the roof of the Tivoli was going to blow off.  The band finished playing and tried to leave the stage.

However, there was no way the crowd was letting the band go. The noise was enormous. The band quickly returned to their instruments as Kate “Babyshakes” Dillon thanked the crowd for their support as waves were given, but she was mindful of the next band performing. She encouraged the crowd to stay and enjoy the “afterparty” with the extraordinary “Korean band Hypnosis Therapy” as the band wanted to enjoy their performance. Then, with a “Goodnight. We will finish with our friends on the ‘Scene’ - yeah” as she gestured to the crowd, full of friends, fans and other musicians and artists.

And, ‘Scene’ ended the 18-song setlist of dark, powerful, well-crafted and incredible songs. The Full Flower Moon Band took a bow to the delight of the crowd. It was an extraordinary performance driven by intelligence, authenticity and ingenuity. It was so good! What a fantastic night of pure rock ‘n’ roll!

The after-party kicked off in full style with Hypnosis Therapy. And how they performed in masks and hoodies in that heat I do not know. It was impressive!

Hypnosis Therapy are musicians (Jjangyou and Jflow) and they brought the dance ‘flow’ of detonated electronic dance music (EDM) energy in an explosion of breakbeats, techno and punk sonic styles. The crowd were in celebration mode as the dancing and socialising got into full swing. The band were swamped with people dancing at the front of the stage and all over the venue.

With songs like ‘Frog’, ‘Acid Rain’ and ‘Daze’, Hypnosis Therapy delivered unique deep house sounds that seem to be ruling the world at the moment in clubs, with sonic soundscapes that blend groovy, glitchy rock into EDM. The musicians from the bands of the night joined the crowd, and “party mode” was on. It was great to see the young musician’s enjoying their time with family, friends and fans who have walked with them on their life journeys, relax, party and revel in the successes.

Foo Fighters in November next…I cannot wait!