The Jungle Giants holding our hands through the apocalypse

Lining up outside Fortitude Valley’s ‘The Tivoli’, the preparedness is palpable. Mateship is in check where it'd be flying off the handle if not for security keeping us grounded. With The Jungle Giants and their release of ‘Hold My Hand’ at the beginning of the year, we’re eager for more music from them. On the inside, party bops blasting over the PA and keen anticipation for a pumped up DJ set by Sycco and friends? Life is good.

Sycco’s set starts seamlessly from the house music as she appears on stage, possibly from out of nowhere. A few newer party hits pass through with ease as she tests the waters of the crowd. Suddenly, Calvin’s ‘Feel So Close’ comes with a wave of cheers and suddenly the pit is on fire. It’s like being transported to the school disco that we never got in younger days and it’s clear that every fan from the class of 2015 is there with me. ‘Nosebleed Section’ comes followed by the Macarena and Flo Rida’s ‘Low’, hit after hit after hit. J-Kwon’s ‘Tipsy’ comes next. On the drop, a moment passes where everyone could be living their last night on earth and we would be unbothered. Benny Benassi’s ‘Cinema’ keeps that feeling until ‘Murder on the Dancefloor’ and its sweet dulcet reminder of how good it feels to be alive in that moment brings us back. Finally, a remix of one of Sycco’s originals came to top off the set. 

Although the excitement ended on stage, the crowd has yet to be sated. 

Nine-thirty ticks by with the dimming of the lights and cheers of the audience; if not for the many times I've been in this situation, I'd feel the full-body shivers that come with this brief moment. 

The commanding single note chugs from Cesira Aitken’s guitar start ‘On Your Way Down’ with a count into the chorus from the crowd. Hands and chants fill the air. “Come on and feel love” is the only phrase on any fan’s mind.

It's impossible to tell where the cheers stop and the tracks come back in as ‘Trippin Up’ arrives with its stabs. The very funky ‘In Her Eyes’ is up next with front lights flashing mid-way through as a shallow prompt for the audience to enjoy themselves - it’s immediately obvious no-one needs it. The crowd moves and yells every lyric to ‘Sending Me Your Loving’ after which lead singer, Sam Hales, speaks on his car accident in Brisbane last month. When shouting out the doctors and nurses who helped him in hospital, every single one made themselves known within the audience, embraced by others around them. Finally, Sam points out the centre of the pit where every face looking back at him could sing every word to the show. 

‘Bad Dream’ rocks the venue to its core next, a flashback to where The Jungle Giants made their come-up. Bass player, Andrew Dooris, shows his efforts to imitate a marathon runner, making himself known on both edges of the stage as ‘She’s A Riot’ blew through The Tivoli’s stacked PA system. An expertly designed and broad array of stage lights dazzles as ‘Monstertruck’ and ‘Love Signs’ continues on: the crowd practically begs for the chance to yell “PICK IT UP” one more time. 

Messages on phones started appearing in the crowd, asking questions Sam Hales could only answer with a song and 'Used To Be in Love' was the perfect choice. The Jungle Giants’ beginning of the year release ‘Hold My Hand’ was the next to come, triggering every epileptic north of the Brisbane River with its strobe lights. Stage exit came with the usual chants to be expected from Australian crowds wanting their money’s worth. The backing tracks to ‘Feel the Way I Do’ and ‘Heavy Hearted’ came easily to the venue’s sold out crowd as the last beats concluded a night of losing our voices next to six-foot-tall-corduroy-pant-adorned-cap-wearing skinny 20-year-old QUT art majors. 

Full gallery available for The Jungle Giants and Sycco.