Of Mice & Men, Sienna Skies @ Lion Arts Factory, Adelaide 23/2/2024
This was a gig and a half and definitely a case of Friday night done right at Lion Arts Factory experiencing the double combo featuring Of Mice & Men supported by Sienna Skies. With the amount of rock action in Adelaide over the last week or so we have been spoilt for choice and this show was packed to the rafters celebrating their return being six years since their last tour here.
Post-hardcore rockers Sienna Skies opened to a big crowd who were there early and they were impressive. I plead ignorance not knowing much about this band but from what I experienced seeing this band they really do have something which makes you think that 2024 will be their year to shine. Playing songs from their forthcoming EP ONLY CHANGE IS PERMANENT gave fans some insight as to what is to come this April when it is launched (April 26 at Crown & Anchor) the set highlight for me was Mess, wow, seriously good.
Of Mice & Men wasted no time at all with their rampaging opener Bones Exposed. Drummer Valentino Arteaga is first out standing behind his massive drum set up playing a number of drum fills to fire up the crowd and as the rest of the band take the stage it was on like Donkey Kong. I don’t know how these youngsters do it but the energy and intensity down the front was wild as they danced, jumped, slammed and formed many a circle to the music of their heroes.
Being a whirlwind tour with consecutive shows planned and looming jet lag you would have thought the band might have been suffering a bit, but there was no sign of the slightest and it seemed as if they played with the intensity that their life depended on it and the energy of the crowd would have been plenty to lift the collective spirits of the band ten fold. The band and crowd dynamic was a wonderful thing to watch. Singer Aaron Pauley said “it was great to be back” ploughing their way through Would You Still Be There and Castaway.
Obsolete was killer! This tour was very much about their new album Tether which was released last year playing the brutal and heavy Warpaint followed by Indigo. When Pauley asked the crowd if they wanted to hear another new one I don’t think he got the reaction he was looking for. Nevertheless, the old and the new blended together famously. Tether has plenty of great moments including Pauley’s personal favourite Into The Sun which went down a treat.
When the band returned to familiar territory that’s where the crowd found that little bit extra to go that little bit harder. Earth & Sky was exactly that and one lucky fan in the crowd had a dream come true moment being pulled up on stage to play O.G. Loko. Holding up a sign all show which said “LET ME PLAY GUITAR ON O.G LOKO” and patiently waiting he got his moment, The band weren’t sure how this was going to go but I think they were blown away by how well he nailed it. Instincts had the traditional “Aussie Aussie Oi Oi” thrown in followed by the poignant Bloom which was dedicated to those who have lost a loved one. With the crowd crouched down and jumping up on command it was The Depths that brought the main set to a close.
With a brief pause to wipe the sweat off your brow the crowd started chanting for one more song with the band returning to play one of their classics Second & Sebring. This was an epic show and there is plenty of love for Of Mice & Men in Adelaide and with that response hopefully a return is much sooner.
Live Review By Rob Lyon