The Fallen Chandeliers opened proceedings with a neat set of bluesy folk tunes. A three piece with two singers and two guitarists, they fleshed out their sound with keyboard backing tracks and a drum machine. This was their first show together, and they didn’t seem to suffer any nerves.

Sundiver’s set was the last for bass player Michael Petkovic before he heads overseas to live in Japan for a year, and they sent him off in style. The band knows how to construct a set with ebbs and flows and waves of intensity. Despite playing for well over an hour for nine songs, it didn’t feel drawn out. Guitarist/singer Rob Del Col alternates between atmospheric augmented chords and crunchy riffs, his guitar distorted and sustained, with occasional attacking solos. Michael Petkovic’s bass drives the sound, always in motion as he plays, alternating between hard-hitting rhythmic lines and more melodic sections. Drummer Richo shares an almost telepathic connection with his bandmates, keeping solid time (no matter how unconventional the time signature) throughout but also pummelling his kit with great dexterity when called for.

And the epic songs. They’re heavy and atmospheric, the vocals melodic. Rob Del Col has a powerful voice, with great control and emotional range. Highlights of their set include ‘Little Bird’, a ballad that builds to a soulful final verse where a bluesy bassline locks in with Bonham-esque drums. ‘He Did Wander’ is sludgy psych rock driven by a gargantuan Sabbath style groove (at one point during the set I thought we were getting a cover of ‘War Pigs’…). ‘Hard Lines’ is the ideal set closer. It could be the heaviest song they played, and the 6/8 time signature drives the song towards an explosive and cathartic conclusion.

Sundiver are the real deal. Their set was tight, dynamic, and they show great creativity and song writing chops. The band has the kind of chemistry you can’t fake – if you took anyone of the three players out of the equation it would drastically affect the sound. They also have some recordings coming out soon so stay tuned, I reckon they’ll be great.