Glorious, magnificent, sumptuous. Five men from Texas totally and utterly immersed in the making of music. Epic sounds and huge emotions. Explosions in the Sky can summon thoughts and emotions without uttering a single word. Thursday night at the Opera House was my third time seeing them and each second of each show was a thrilling ride. There is quite simply no one like them in the live arena.

Guitars rise and fall, drums crash. They are totally in sync with each other and you can physically see them feeling each and every note. And they take the audience with them, in joyous symphony. I still can't quite figure out how they make their guitars sound like they do. They speak to them and they speak back. It's a beautiful sight and they truly stir up inside anyone who has the privilege of seeing them. Everything was near perfect, the set list was a feast for all. By the time they closed with the epic mountain that is 'The Only Moment We Were Alone' it was clear to all that we had again witnessed something extremely special.

Set List
Wilderness
Catastrophe and the Cure
Logic of a Dream
Greet Death
First Breath After Coma
The Birth and Death of the Day
With Tired Eyes, Tired Minds, Tired Souls, We Slept
Colors in Space
Your Hand in Mine
Disintegration Anxiety
The Only Moment We Were Alone

The Laneway Festival has always been on the cutting edge. It has grown in size but still managed to be at or near the forefront of modern music. I will say however that in recent years it has veered more into the territory of electro and pop with 2015 reaching its zenith. So much so that I didn't go. 2016 I had to skip as well as I had work commitments on that day. But 2017 I was back and even though the headliners didn't really interest me there were several acts I was very excited to see. Overall I had a great day despite it being very hot. Crowds weren't over bearing and easy to navigate. Food options were outstanding (Belle's Hot Chicken being a huge winner) and the Callan Park venue is nice and pleasant. Some of the acts I enjoyed (beside the three standouts below) were White Lung, who were fierce and hard. Their music isn't really in my wheelhouse but I enjoyed them live. I also enjoyed the beautiful stylings of Julia Jacklin. She has a wonderful choice. One act I wanted to see were Gang of Youths. But they overlapped with Car Seat Headrest so I only saw their last two songs. The crowd was loving them but I have to say the vocals were mixed way too low which was a disappointment.  Then there were three acts I loved in huge amounts.

Car Seat Headrest were easily the biggest talent on display on the day. Will Toledo is a musical prodigy and they really connect with their audience. Their songs have everything. They are epic, anthemic, thoughtful and emotionally and intellectually powerful. They are already great and really needed to be given a later slot than the one they enjoyed.

Set List
Fill in the Blank
Vincent
Shivers (The Birthday Party cover)
Destroyed by Hippie Powers
Drunk Drivers/Killer Whales
Unforgiving Girl (She's Not An)
Motorway to Roswell (Pixies cover)

Whitney are just makers of beautiful music. Their songs are just laced with gorgeous melodies. The band fit in so well together. Guitar work is sublime and the trumpet tops off everything nicely.

Set List
Dave's Song
No Matter Where We Go
Polly
Red Moon
Golden Days
On My Own
The Falls
Follow
Magnet (NRBQ cover)
No Woman

Camp Cope are from Melbourne. Camp Cope are extremely talented. The three piece write songs of stark emotion and hit you hard in the head and the heart. Lead singer Georgia has a voice to move mountains. Whilst bassist Kelly-Dawn is outstanding. They really deserved a later slot than 12 noon. So much talent.

Set List
Done
Jet Fuel Can't Melt Steel Beams
Keep Growing
West Side Story
Trepidation
Flesh and Electricity
Stove Lighter
Lost (Season One)

Oh sweet melody. Whitney Thursday night at the Oxford Art Factory was a glorious night indeed. The young Californian band are on our shores for Laneway Festival, armed with beautiful tunes from their splendid debut album. With only one album it was a short but oh so sweet night filled with joy and beauty.

Lead singer Julien Ehrlich started the show by creeping up close to the front of the stage to serenade us with a Dolly Parton cover. Only lead guitarist Max Kakacek joined him but soon the whole band was with us as they launched into the rest of the night. First song was one of my favourites in 'Dave's Song'. The rest of the night was just complete joy. Just superb melodies and great wads of jangly guitar with a trumpet thrown in for good measure. Kakacek's guitar was a highlight with amazing chords being plucked. Whilst the band has the unique situation of the lead singer being also the drummer with his kit pushed to the very front of the stage. Ehrlich's voice is quite something. It's a falsetto which often cracks and creaks. It's not perfect but it is perfectly suited to the music.He was also very charming, always chatting between songs with a smile of delight on his face. Th encore was supposed to be four songs and then they remembered they had played one at the start of the night. So we actually received the Dolly Parton song again before they ended the night with the utterly magnificent 'No Woman'. It was a truly great night, a reminder of the beauty of song in every way possible.

Set List
Gonna Hurry (As Slow As I Can) (Dolly Parton cover) 

Dave's Song

No Matter Where We Go
Polly
Red Moon
Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You (Bob Dylan cover)
Golden Days
On My Own
The Falls
Follow

Light Upon The Lake
Magnet (NRBQ cover)

Gonna Hurry (As Slow As I Can) (Dolly Parton cover) 
No Woman