Photo: Kristen Ashton

Melbourne three-piece Sleep Parade veer toward the more progressive end of tonight’s rock buffet, and the crowd happily chow down on their entree-sized offering. Although they skulk in the shadow of a certain Bondi hard-rock trio, the crowd finds their flavoursome blend more satisfying than fellow Melbournites Trial Kennedy. Despite their playful stage manner and bite-sized chunks of indie-punk rock, they’re met with sceptical gazes and crossed arms until recent Triple J fodder Colour Day Tours and Neighbours are debuted. They’re medium-rare, but well-done’s not far off. If that’s what you’re into.

As the food analogies are put onto the back burner, the air’s thick with dramatic, pained wailings and the stage is adorned with ridiculously high-brow artwork: The Butterfly Effect exhibit their maturity and world-class showmanship with a technically brilliant set spanning their seven-year recording career. From towering opener Worlds On Fire to 2001 breakthrough hit The Cell, the lauded local quartet thrill the crowded Tivoli with their hard-edged rock sound, accompanied by the operatic vocal stylings of Clint Boge and a rather superb light show. Though material from latest release Final Conversation Of Kings largely eschews the jagged, labyrinthine rhythm structures for which they’ve become known, the strong reception of new material indicates an acceptance of their directional adjustment.

ANDREW MCMILLEN

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