(hed) p.e., Heartline, Falter @ Lion Arts Factory, Adelaide 5/2/2025
Sometimes life is a vibe. Sometimes that vibe is a moment in time. Sometimes that time is at a gig where a band blows your mind. Sometimes that mind is blown by (hed) p.e.
(hed) p.e. have been blowing minds for quite some time. As vocalist, melodic player and all round bad ass Jared Gomes states ‘it’s the only thing he knows what to do’. He does it well.
The last time the guys were here, this reviewer went and thought the show was amazing. However hardly anyone else turned up and the thought of seeing the band again evaporated. Tonight was a pleasant and heartwarming sight that plenty more punters made the Wednesday night pilgrimage and that they were not dissatisfied.
The energy from the crowd coursed through the gig hour the venue and Gomes and his crew went for it. When the heavy came, it slammed. When the reggae soul came, it jived. Every step of the way, every word was sung, grooved and bounced by literally everyone in the room.
That vibe was intense. No one was stood around arms crossed just nodding. Not even me. Every person threw themselves into the show and for their part, so did the band.
You want a ten minute journey through Bartender? It’s here. The drop and riff of Renegade. Oh man, it was fire. (hed) p.e. brought everything for us to play with.
Mentioning about bringing us stuff, the opening acts deserve fair mention. Falter set us on our way with a rhythmic bounce that utilises shades of hip hop, metal and melody through their art. Chuck in a cheeky Korn cover and they’ve made the crowd feel good already.
Adelaide’s own Heartline take on the mantle of main touring support and with good reason. They have toured throughout 2024 which has allowed them to chisel their stage craft with precision. The bands energy while still maintaining a clarity of performance is exceptional. They bounce when needed and those breakdowns such as in ‘Ten’ are arena worthy chaotic pit inducing. All that is left is for the band to get back in the studio soon please.
However, as the aroma of green natural substances begins to float through the air, it’s obvious this is (hed) p.e. show.
For the uninitiated, they are a metal band who expertly dispense reggae, funk, hip hop, a sprinkle of disco and they even throw in a melodica solo for free. Yes, it’s a bit of a party.
They open with No Way Out and the room just gets it as the music lures the punters from the smoking area in like the pied piper of Hamelin.
This place becomes one big party, everyone dances, they sing, and with each track Gomes seems to get younger, fuelling more fire into the crowd.
There’s a Wailers track during the evening, the room chants to ‘get the fuck out’ during Raise Hell and of course then the epic Bartender.
The only played for an hour but damn, that is all they needed to create the vibe and send everyone off feeling pretty good about life. (hed) p.e., thanks for coming back, I’m glad Adelaide didn’t let you down.
Live Review By Iain McCallum