As we continue our look back at 2016, today we reveal the local artists that our writers voted the best live acts of the year:
All hail mighty Brisbane four-piece Violent Soho, who also topped this poll in 2014! They included a cover of Nirvana's Breed in their Splendour In The Grass set so you can just imagine the mayhem that ensued.
Violent Soho gigs are always hairy, sweaty affairs (on and off stage) and onstage headstands by band members have been captured on film. Moshpits at Violent Soho gigs typically stretch from the photography barrier aaaaall the way to the back wall and, of course, surf's always up for crowd-surfing. Our very own in-house photographer Kane Hibberd took an aerial shot during one of the band's sold-out shows on their WACO tour at Melbourne's Forum Theatre that made the internet froth.
They've been around for 13 years, which equals oodles of live gigging experience. Violent Soho's Viceroy was deemed our (tied) ninth Best Song Of 2016 and the band's WACO album, for which they collected the Best Rock Album ARIA this year (also picking up 2016's Best Group ARIA!), came in at #8 in our Album Of The Year poll - talk about winning!
Another band that conjures a continuous swell for the unofficial Crowdsurfing Olympics is our runner-up Australian Live Artist Of The Year King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, who held fourth position in this category last year and have been repping both overseas and at home throughout 2016. The septet even hosts their own festival, Gizzfest, which enjoyed its second year in 2016. Gold Class owned our third spot last year and this year they're back in at #8. Elder statesmen The Drones (#4) and Regurgitator (#9) showed us they've still got it. But 2016 was also a stellar year for emerging talent. Ngaiire, Camp Cope and Alex Lahey seemed to be gigging every other week and their hard work's definitely paid off (they came in at #3, #5 and #6 respectively). Young rapper/singer Tkay Maidza continues to impress (#7) and our poll rounds out with a rockin' three-way tie in tenth spot (Birds Of Tokyo, Caligula's Horse, The Hard Aches).
1. Violent Soho
"Their music holds up to scrutiny, capturing a nuanced kind of fierce aggression, skittering between the quiet melodies and angsty outbursts."
2. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
"The sea of people now starts to seethe and froth as the group launch into their trademark, hard-out, unrelenting live show."
3. Ngaiire
"Novacaine… goes on to showcase Ngaiire's rich, soulful voice as she moves between golden and raspy, majestic throughout."
4. The Drones
"Frontman Gareth Liddiard seems deadly serious as he spits bile all over its oblique beat.
5. Camp Cope
"A balance of both emotional fragility and angst creates the modern punk sound that is Camp Cope."
6. Alex Lahey
"It’s a real treat to see her rocking out."
7. Tkay Maidza
"Maidza herself still seems so incredibly humbled to be where she is."
8. Gold Class
"A delightful introduction that leads into pure musical dynamite."
9. Regurgitator
"No filler, all killer as we pogoed to classics including Black Bugs, Polyester Girl and Blubber Boy."
10. Birds Of Tokyo; Caligula's Horse; The Hard Aches
Previous winners
2015: Courtney Barnett
2014: Violent Soho
2013: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
2012: Dirty Three
2011: Grinderman
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