On a cool autumn evening in southern Tasmania, Cog, accompanied by Solkyri and Penrose Way, rolled into town to warm up a chilled Hobart audience as they continued their Walk The Line nationwide tour on the back of their latest single release of the same name.
As the time came for brothers, Flynn and Luke Gower and drummer Lucius Borich to hit the stage, the smoke machine began to pour out the haze, while Jean-Michel Jarre’s Oxygene Pt 2 filled the air via the PA, a fitting opening for what was to come. Loud cheers greeted the band as they opened with crowd favourite, Doors, then made their way through a catalogue spanning back to their first mini-album, Just Visiting released in 2002.
Flynn Gower’s vocals have lost none of their power or finesse across the years – in fact, they feel more mature and with added depth, with a delivery that only comes with the familiarity and experience of being on stage across the years. The band gel beautifully, like a hand in a well-worn and comfortable glove, and this spills over to the crowd who hang on every note as the band work their way through a set containing all the classics from the electric Moshiach through new single, Walk The Line to The Middle and Run, amongst others.
The crowd are slowly working up to a heaving, single entity, held together by the tightness and unrelenting rhythm of the music, culminating in a volcanic eruption of blissful ecstasy as they find full voice, joining the band in the penultimate song, My Enemy and the final Bird Of Feather.
Setlist:
1. Doors
2. Are You Interested?
3. What If
4. Moshiach
5. Walk The Line
6. The Middle
7. Drawn Together
8. Silence Is Violence
9. The Spine
10. Run
11. My Enemy
12. Bird Of Feather
Cog Photo Gallery:
The night was opened by Townsville’s Penrose Way, a four-piece progressive metal outfit who were definitely feeling the cold, but didn’t let that get in the way of an outstanding performance as they showcased songs from their EP, Stargazer and latest offering, the epic single, Echoes. A band of which I had not heard before this day, they will find that they are firmly on the radar of a host of new fans, as they were warmly received by the early attendees.
Penrose Way Photo Gallery:
Following on from Penrose Way were stripped-back, post-rock Sydneysiders, Solkyri. Usually a quartet, the band played as a trio, yet still managed to draw the crowd in with a masterful set full of colour and atmosphere. This was the second time I had the pleasure of seeing this band live (the first being the last live show I caught before the pandemic shut down the Australian borders when they played in Melbourne in support of Japanese instrumental rockers, MONO back in 2020).
……and thus the scene was set for the main event.
Solkyri Gallery:
All Images: ©fullonrockphotography/Andrew Fuller
