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Dead Letter Circus Live reviews
DEAD LETTER CIRCUS – Live Reviews
Dead Letter Circus started proceedings at the Arena tonight. The on-stage
performance of this local 4-piece was exceptional. Drummer Scott Davey was
fantastic on the skins and sounded very tight. Stewart Hill on the bass was
exceptional with every change perfectly done and Rob Maric on guitar also
pulled out a first-class performance, despite battling a little distortion
during the set. Vocalist, Kim Benzie has a voice that does recordings even
more justice live. There was a decent amount of patrons who came out to see
Dead Letter Circus and the boys got a great response from their hometown.
Disconnect And Apply was one particular song that almost tore the roof off
the Arena - everything that they did was respectable and it was a great set from the local boys.
Faster Louder
KARNIVOOL / Dead Letter Circus
Club Capitol
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Even the frigid winter rain can't touch a sell-out, so by the time
show-openers Dead Letter Circus arrived on stage the house was portly and
poised for a deep rock release. Hailed as Brisbane's successor to the
Butterfly Effect's mighty empire, the melodic quartet showed why the East
Coast has been making such a fuss over them. Building upon one of the most
unique vocal talents in the country DLC have crafted an impressive stable of
tracks for such a young act, and although the mix didn't provide the width
their sound demands, the lads sold it hard, winning over the locals and
warming the room nicely for the home-town heroes…
…The crowd really began to build up around the front of the stage as
Bris-Vegas rockers Dead Letter Circus took to the stage, stirring the crowd
into action with their high energy and fast paced brand of melodic rock. Kim
Benzie drove the girls (and possibly a few of the guys too) crazy as he
showed he can mix it with the best as a vocalist while the band put in a
polished performance, showing the appreciative Melbourne crowd exactly why
they've been generating so much 'buzz'. The crowd seemed to prefer the
faster-paced, higher intensity numbers such as 'The Mile', 'Are We Closer'
and 'Disconnect & Apply', working themselves into a veritable frenzy.
However, the stand-out song for me was 'Lines'. There's just something
inexplicable about the rhythm and tempo of this track that really gets my
ears, and my feet, going.
Cog, Dead Letter Circus, Karnivool
The Hi Fi Bar & Ballroom
In a support slot for Karnivool, Dead Letter Circus put everything on the line at Thursday night’s show. There’s something exhilarating about watching an act this new to the scene literally growing in front of your eyes; blossoming into something bigger, better. Dead Letter Circus are walking a fine line in early life between vulnerability and virtuosity. This tripwire effect is allowing the band to harness this nervous energy whist trying to find their place in the spotlight. Benzie, Maric, Hill and Davey have worked out how to suck in all the apprehension that has come with the hype surrounding them and spit it back out to their advantage. There’s a compelling rawness present, a twisted innocence that make good shows great, and great shows legendary. The magic of Dead Letter Circus - and I’ve been trying to pinpoint this for a while and it has constantly evaded me - is this live-on-the-edge of everything trip they take you on. There’s a sense of urgency behind the music, even when a song has been broken down to barely a whisper. Their power not only lies in the brutal, but more so the subtle. Disconnect and Apply, Lines and Alien began as hairline cracks, breaking apart until the band’s epic sound engulfed the room. This Life Awake, the highlight of the set, was four minutes of unparalleled sonic bliss that surprised us with a killer alternate ending that found Benzie’s potent voice free-falling and gliding around the room.
Beat Mag
Karnivool, Dead Letter Circus @ ClubCapitol (23/06/2007)
Karnivool were supported on their tour around the country by talented
up-and-coming Melbourne band, Dead Letter Circus, who put on an extremely
tight act despite the relatively short amount of time since their formation.
Although their influences are clear, and front man Kim Benzie has evidently
picked up most of his tricks of stage presence and delivery from Ian Kenney,
Dead Letter Circus manages to slot into its own place in the genre, adding
their own flavour to the mix.
Few fans were there specifically to see the support act, and did not appear
familiar with the songs, despite the single Disconnect and Apply enjoying
generous airplay on Triple J. What was most surprising however, and a credit
to Benzie's delivery, was how attentive the audience was. He went to great
lengths to catch the eye of audience members and interact with those in the
front rows and on the balcony, showing respect and voicing appreciation that
we had turned up early to see them play. The rest of the band performed
strongly, their musicianship so skilled, that the entire audience stopped
their chatting and watched, rapt by the performance, then rushed the merch.
desk afterwards to buy a copy of their self-titled EP.
Bar Broadway Sydney
As the night began, and the crowd of punters began to wind their way around
the front of Bar Broadway jostling for their spot in the line - from that
moment on, you knew that the evening's festivities were definitely not about
getting inebriated - people were here to see a band and that band was Dead
Letter Circus.
The vibrant range of personalities in the crowd and the good volume of
ticket sales ensured a great atmosphere. Also making an appearance in the
audience was Lucius Borich from Cog, proving that Australian artists support
each other through out the tough business of the Australian music industry.
Speaking of the Australian music industry, rumour had it that there was many
labels in attendance at the event interested in signing the band. But that
didn't faze Dead Letter Circus as they pumped out thick bass, seamless
guitar, crisp clean vocals and tight drumming. They entered the stage with
an amazing attitude on things and had great crowd interaction. There was a
great vibe on stage and the band performed extremely well and had a great
amount of stage space to work with.
The first song was Some Walls a brand new track from the band, that lead
singer Kim had told me to pay special attention to. Followed by _Lines, Are
We Closer, This Life Away, Disconnect and Apply, The Nors?? _ (not sure on
that one), Alien and ended everything with The Mile, which made the crowd go
nuts. It was an amazing night with lots of excitement that streamed from
all, even the drunken lass that managed to make her way on stage and pash
Rob Maric (guitarist) in between songs. Another observation was during 'The
Mile' a fight broke out and Kim managed to break it up by jumping into the
crowd and pulling the two men apart, and making the peace.
Over all I think there was a great burst of energy from the band and the
crowd alike - making it a fantastic night for all, because everyone gave it
there all and just let go and had some old fashion fun.The crowd was hanging
on every word of every song that the band produced and they weren't
distracted. I shall say if you don't know this band than you should, they
take the podium along side The Butterfly Effect, Karnivool and Cog. They are
great Australian music that you should get into, because they have a lot to
offer now and in the future, its only a matter of time before everyone is
talking about Dead Letter Circus, be one of those people!
Faster Louder
Come Together Festival Review:
Dead Letter Circus caught my eye, their posey, epic-voiced frontman Kim Benzie stealing the show. The crowd showed real interest in these guys. A buzz band on their first real tour, the only thing they were lacking was a crowd chanting ever song. Despite this, my ears were definitely perked. That, and who can’t love a band whose frontman displays ill-advised dance moves and KISS-inspired tongue action?
Karnivool Melbs
The second support act was Brisbane’s Dead Letter Circus and they easily warmed the crowd up for the headliners. These guys from the north are definitely an act you need to keep an eye out for. Tour after tour they manage to climb up the support chain and I’m sure they’ll soon become another one of our Aussie rock pioneers.
I entered the Zoo just as local lads Dead Letter Circus took the stage, after missing the first support act, Bushido from Melbourne. DLC’s EP was released a couple of months ago and they’ve quickly established themselves as heavyweights on the Brisbane hard rock scene. I’d been enjoying their EP in the weeks prior to this show, and was keen to see how they translated to the live environment.
Frontman Kim Benzie was all smiles as the band got comfortable on stage. He stuck his tongue out the side of his mouth for the first of many times, and motioned for the crowd to make more noise, another gesture that would be repeated throughout their set. His requests were so frequent that I had to wonder if they were for his benefit, or whether he was trying to impress somebody…
The band raced through the six tracks from their only release and a couple of others; current Triple J favourite Disconnect And Apply was a highlight. I was surprised at the amount of people who knew all the words to the songs, and felt bad for not knowing myself. Bass player Stewart Hill showed impressive chops, rearing back and forth in the style of Mudvayne bassist Ryan Martinie.
As Dead Letter Circus’ set drew to a close, I couldn’t help but conclude that they are a direct cross between Karnivool and The Butterfly Effect, which is amusing since they’re supporting the former this month, and the latter next month. Don’t get me wrong, it’s great to see that the Australian hard rock scene is thriving, but DLC’s delivery seems almost forced in their imitation. Kim Benzie has modelled his stage performance so heavily on Ian Kenny that it almost feels like I was watching a younger Karnivool.
Nonetheless, the boys were impressive, and the Brisbane crowd showed their love as they departed the stage.
Karnivool, Dead Letter Circus – Capitol, Perth. 23/6/07
Every time the Karnivool lads play in their hometown, the masses roll out. With tickets for the show selling out over a week before the shows, expectations were high for the band to deliver something special. And that they did. But not before Dead Letter Circus warmed up he crowd with their tunes. Ripping through the tracks Lines, This Life Awake and finishing with The Mile, Dead Letter Circus definitely have a lot of potential. While the 40-minute set was good by any standard, it was clear to all that everyone there wanted Karnivool.
Marcia Czerniak - The Drum Media
Dead Letter Circus / Rook – Ding Dong Lounge
…then it was time. To meet the makers. For those fortunate enough to have heard the track listing off Dead Letter Circus’ self titled debut EP before the night’s official launch, it was a thrill alone to see vocalist Kim Benzie, guitarist Rob Maric, bassist Stewart Hill and drummer Scott Davey materialise in the flesh. Dead Letter Circus are not the caliber of act you knock back pints to. They are not the soundtrack to Friday night. A strange, sonic snowflake, they tease, they taunt, they flaunt their cruel beauty in front of you. You abandon drinks, you abandon friends, you abandon all preconceptions and you tune into their twisted radio alone. You listen: to the chasm of echoes, the reverberations, the after shocks, the space expanding, time altering soundscapes. You learn: from lyrics that fly on the wings of rage and reflection.
For an act this new to the scene and who have been holed up in the studio for much of the past year, Dead Letter Circus are still finding their footing live. There were moments of pure magic when Maric, Hill and Davey hit a seamless synchrony that sent shivers down spines; others when Benzie surrendered himself completely to the moment and rode out his vocal trip with the self reliance and assurance of a seasoned performer. Sometimes all of these forces coalesced into the frightening force at the helm of the Dead Letter wheel. Lines and This Life Awake struck dynamic fusion of fragility and force. Disconnect and Apply stripped off its skin, exposing frayed nerves and a head swimming with dreams. The Mile pulsated with high voltage electricity. Alien, the dark and dazzling jewel of the EP, shone from its many well cut surfaces despite being shortened for the set.
To bear witness to Dead Letter Circus in the confines of a city bar for a handful of dollars left me feeling at once guilty and elated. It’s times like these that you will remember most fondly when you are sitting in a sold-out stadium – the memory of them emerging from behind a clattering of drink trays, through the ghostly vapour of cigarette smoke to announce their arrival on a four by six stage.
Helen Barradell – Beat Magazine.
Dead Letter Circus started proceedings at the Arena tonight. The on-stage
performance of this local 4-piece was exceptional. Drummer Scott Davey was
fantastic on the skins and sounded very tight. Stewart Hill on the bass was
exceptional with every change perfectly done and Rob Maric on guitar also
pulled out a first-class performance, despite battling a little distortion
during the set. Vocalist, Kim Benzie has a voice that does recordings even
more justice live. There was a decent amount of patrons who came out to see
Dead Letter Circus and the boys got a great response from their hometown.
Disconnect And Apply was one particular song that almost tore the roof off
the Arena - everything that they did was respectable and it was a great set from the local boys.
Faster Louder
KARNIVOOL / Dead Letter Circus
Club Capitol
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Even the frigid winter rain can't touch a sell-out, so by the time
show-openers Dead Letter Circus arrived on stage the house was portly and
poised for a deep rock release. Hailed as Brisbane's successor to the
Butterfly Effect's mighty empire, the melodic quartet showed why the East
Coast has been making such a fuss over them. Building upon one of the most
unique vocal talents in the country DLC have crafted an impressive stable of
tracks for such a young act, and although the mix didn't provide the width
their sound demands, the lads sold it hard, winning over the locals and
warming the room nicely for the home-town heroes…
…The crowd really began to build up around the front of the stage as
Bris-Vegas rockers Dead Letter Circus took to the stage, stirring the crowd
into action with their high energy and fast paced brand of melodic rock. Kim
Benzie drove the girls (and possibly a few of the guys too) crazy as he
showed he can mix it with the best as a vocalist while the band put in a
polished performance, showing the appreciative Melbourne crowd exactly why
they've been generating so much 'buzz'. The crowd seemed to prefer the
faster-paced, higher intensity numbers such as 'The Mile', 'Are We Closer'
and 'Disconnect & Apply', working themselves into a veritable frenzy.
However, the stand-out song for me was 'Lines'. There's just something
inexplicable about the rhythm and tempo of this track that really gets my
ears, and my feet, going.
Cog, Dead Letter Circus, Karnivool
The Hi Fi Bar & Ballroom
In a support slot for Karnivool, Dead Letter Circus put everything on the line at Thursday night’s show. There’s something exhilarating about watching an act this new to the scene literally growing in front of your eyes; blossoming into something bigger, better. Dead Letter Circus are walking a fine line in early life between vulnerability and virtuosity. This tripwire effect is allowing the band to harness this nervous energy whist trying to find their place in the spotlight. Benzie, Maric, Hill and Davey have worked out how to suck in all the apprehension that has come with the hype surrounding them and spit it back out to their advantage. There’s a compelling rawness present, a twisted innocence that make good shows great, and great shows legendary. The magic of Dead Letter Circus - and I’ve been trying to pinpoint this for a while and it has constantly evaded me - is this live-on-the-edge of everything trip they take you on. There’s a sense of urgency behind the music, even when a song has been broken down to barely a whisper. Their power not only lies in the brutal, but more so the subtle. Disconnect and Apply, Lines and Alien began as hairline cracks, breaking apart until the band’s epic sound engulfed the room. This Life Awake, the highlight of the set, was four minutes of unparalleled sonic bliss that surprised us with a killer alternate ending that found Benzie’s potent voice free-falling and gliding around the room.
Beat Mag
Karnivool, Dead Letter Circus @ ClubCapitol (23/06/2007)
Karnivool were supported on their tour around the country by talented
up-and-coming Melbourne band, Dead Letter Circus, who put on an extremely
tight act despite the relatively short amount of time since their formation.
Although their influences are clear, and front man Kim Benzie has evidently
picked up most of his tricks of stage presence and delivery from Ian Kenney,
Dead Letter Circus manages to slot into its own place in the genre, adding
their own flavour to the mix.
Few fans were there specifically to see the support act, and did not appear
familiar with the songs, despite the single Disconnect and Apply enjoying
generous airplay on Triple J. What was most surprising however, and a credit
to Benzie's delivery, was how attentive the audience was. He went to great
lengths to catch the eye of audience members and interact with those in the
front rows and on the balcony, showing respect and voicing appreciation that
we had turned up early to see them play. The rest of the band performed
strongly, their musicianship so skilled, that the entire audience stopped
their chatting and watched, rapt by the performance, then rushed the merch.
desk afterwards to buy a copy of their self-titled EP.
Bar Broadway Sydney
As the night began, and the crowd of punters began to wind their way around
the front of Bar Broadway jostling for their spot in the line - from that
moment on, you knew that the evening's festivities were definitely not about
getting inebriated - people were here to see a band and that band was Dead
Letter Circus.
The vibrant range of personalities in the crowd and the good volume of
ticket sales ensured a great atmosphere. Also making an appearance in the
audience was Lucius Borich from Cog, proving that Australian artists support
each other through out the tough business of the Australian music industry.
Speaking of the Australian music industry, rumour had it that there was many
labels in attendance at the event interested in signing the band. But that
didn't faze Dead Letter Circus as they pumped out thick bass, seamless
guitar, crisp clean vocals and tight drumming. They entered the stage with
an amazing attitude on things and had great crowd interaction. There was a
great vibe on stage and the band performed extremely well and had a great
amount of stage space to work with.
The first song was Some Walls a brand new track from the band, that lead
singer Kim had told me to pay special attention to. Followed by _Lines, Are
We Closer, This Life Away, Disconnect and Apply, The Nors?? _ (not sure on
that one), Alien and ended everything with The Mile, which made the crowd go
nuts. It was an amazing night with lots of excitement that streamed from
all, even the drunken lass that managed to make her way on stage and pash
Rob Maric (guitarist) in between songs. Another observation was during 'The
Mile' a fight broke out and Kim managed to break it up by jumping into the
crowd and pulling the two men apart, and making the peace.
Over all I think there was a great burst of energy from the band and the
crowd alike - making it a fantastic night for all, because everyone gave it
there all and just let go and had some old fashion fun.The crowd was hanging
on every word of every song that the band produced and they weren't
distracted. I shall say if you don't know this band than you should, they
take the podium along side The Butterfly Effect, Karnivool and Cog. They are
great Australian music that you should get into, because they have a lot to
offer now and in the future, its only a matter of time before everyone is
talking about Dead Letter Circus, be one of those people!
Faster Louder
Come Together Festival Review:
Dead Letter Circus caught my eye, their posey, epic-voiced frontman Kim Benzie stealing the show. The crowd showed real interest in these guys. A buzz band on their first real tour, the only thing they were lacking was a crowd chanting ever song. Despite this, my ears were definitely perked. That, and who can’t love a band whose frontman displays ill-advised dance moves and KISS-inspired tongue action?
Karnivool Melbs
The second support act was Brisbane’s Dead Letter Circus and they easily warmed the crowd up for the headliners. These guys from the north are definitely an act you need to keep an eye out for. Tour after tour they manage to climb up the support chain and I’m sure they’ll soon become another one of our Aussie rock pioneers.
I entered the Zoo just as local lads Dead Letter Circus took the stage, after missing the first support act, Bushido from Melbourne. DLC’s EP was released a couple of months ago and they’ve quickly established themselves as heavyweights on the Brisbane hard rock scene. I’d been enjoying their EP in the weeks prior to this show, and was keen to see how they translated to the live environment.
Frontman Kim Benzie was all smiles as the band got comfortable on stage. He stuck his tongue out the side of his mouth for the first of many times, and motioned for the crowd to make more noise, another gesture that would be repeated throughout their set. His requests were so frequent that I had to wonder if they were for his benefit, or whether he was trying to impress somebody…
The band raced through the six tracks from their only release and a couple of others; current Triple J favourite Disconnect And Apply was a highlight. I was surprised at the amount of people who knew all the words to the songs, and felt bad for not knowing myself. Bass player Stewart Hill showed impressive chops, rearing back and forth in the style of Mudvayne bassist Ryan Martinie.
As Dead Letter Circus’ set drew to a close, I couldn’t help but conclude that they are a direct cross between Karnivool and The Butterfly Effect, which is amusing since they’re supporting the former this month, and the latter next month. Don’t get me wrong, it’s great to see that the Australian hard rock scene is thriving, but DLC’s delivery seems almost forced in their imitation. Kim Benzie has modelled his stage performance so heavily on Ian Kenny that it almost feels like I was watching a younger Karnivool.
Nonetheless, the boys were impressive, and the Brisbane crowd showed their love as they departed the stage.
Karnivool, Dead Letter Circus – Capitol, Perth. 23/6/07
Every time the Karnivool lads play in their hometown, the masses roll out. With tickets for the show selling out over a week before the shows, expectations were high for the band to deliver something special. And that they did. But not before Dead Letter Circus warmed up he crowd with their tunes. Ripping through the tracks Lines, This Life Awake and finishing with The Mile, Dead Letter Circus definitely have a lot of potential. While the 40-minute set was good by any standard, it was clear to all that everyone there wanted Karnivool.
Marcia Czerniak - The Drum Media
Dead Letter Circus / Rook – Ding Dong Lounge
…then it was time. To meet the makers. For those fortunate enough to have heard the track listing off Dead Letter Circus’ self titled debut EP before the night’s official launch, it was a thrill alone to see vocalist Kim Benzie, guitarist Rob Maric, bassist Stewart Hill and drummer Scott Davey materialise in the flesh. Dead Letter Circus are not the caliber of act you knock back pints to. They are not the soundtrack to Friday night. A strange, sonic snowflake, they tease, they taunt, they flaunt their cruel beauty in front of you. You abandon drinks, you abandon friends, you abandon all preconceptions and you tune into their twisted radio alone. You listen: to the chasm of echoes, the reverberations, the after shocks, the space expanding, time altering soundscapes. You learn: from lyrics that fly on the wings of rage and reflection.
For an act this new to the scene and who have been holed up in the studio for much of the past year, Dead Letter Circus are still finding their footing live. There were moments of pure magic when Maric, Hill and Davey hit a seamless synchrony that sent shivers down spines; others when Benzie surrendered himself completely to the moment and rode out his vocal trip with the self reliance and assurance of a seasoned performer. Sometimes all of these forces coalesced into the frightening force at the helm of the Dead Letter wheel. Lines and This Life Awake struck dynamic fusion of fragility and force. Disconnect and Apply stripped off its skin, exposing frayed nerves and a head swimming with dreams. The Mile pulsated with high voltage electricity. Alien, the dark and dazzling jewel of the EP, shone from its many well cut surfaces despite being shortened for the set.
To bear witness to Dead Letter Circus in the confines of a city bar for a handful of dollars left me feeling at once guilty and elated. It’s times like these that you will remember most fondly when you are sitting in a sold-out stadium – the memory of them emerging from behind a clattering of drink trays, through the ghostly vapour of cigarette smoke to announce their arrival on a four by six stage.
Helen Barradell – Beat Magazine.