Crowbar Sydney is becoming one of Sydney’s best venues, with hundreds of people already taking its stages since opening in the new year. And this venue is where Tired Lion proved why they’re the best up and coming rock band in the whole country. The last time I saw Tired Lion was at FKA Festival in Hunter Valley, so I was stoked that I could see them 10 minutes from my home in a more intimate setting.
LOSER kicked off the night an hour after doors had opened, and without the set times being posted, I just assumed it was a way to get people to buy more drinks before the band’s started (it worked for me). Loser reminded me of a mix between Skeggs and Hockey Dad, and I was all for their sound. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re added to a bunch of festivals in 2019, because they can definitely rock it.
If you’re six foot tall or over and on the barrier, every member of Tired Lion looked fantastic, but if you’re any of the girls standing behind these lads, you’d be glad to even get a slight glimpse of Sophie. Nevertheless, the sold out crowd had an exuberant amount of energy and movement right from the get-go, opening up mosh pits and slipping on spilt beer. Since my first time hearing their latest released track, With or Without You, I was excited to see how it would go down live. Ripping expectations to shreds, the chorus was a massive sing-and-dance-along as every person belted the lyrics along. Single Agoraphobia takes it up a notch with heavy guitar riffs and an uninhibited drum beat. The song showcases Sophie’s fearlessly raw, yet never grating, vocals and her electrifying stage presence. Japan and Where Were You blew the roof off, alongside their brand new song which got everyone literally screaming “fuck”. If you’ve never seen Tired Lion, one thing you’ve got to know about them is they’ve got great onstage banter, including the brilliant shoutout and song dedication to ‘eggboy’, the kid that egged Fraser Anning the day before. Tired Lion showcased a great example of grungy, gorgeous, musical magic to the applauding audience, ending on two tracks, including Fresh and Cinderella Dracula, proving that Australian female fronted rock is the best damn music in the world.
Photos – Nick Musgrave
Review – Robert Tannous
