Taking to the stage to open the night at the Metro Theatre in Sydney were Melbourne Punk Rock Band, Harbours. A group that I hadn’t heard of before but their songs were full of energy and raw emotion. They reminded me of the type of band that would open for The Getaway Plan many years ago, so they were a great fit for a support act.
This night would clearly be all about the memories. The Getaway Plan played a 2 set show, including their debut album, Other Voices, Other Rooms performed in its entirety. As a 10 year reunion tour and with the band being in and out of action since they first parted ways in 2009, the thousands of fans that filled the Metro, proved just how popular these guys still are. I felt like I was a teenager again, and judging by the now older crowd, I was not alone. Everyone was here for a good time and to reminisce on their old emo/alternative days.
I felt the start of the show was pretty mellow and the crowd lacked energy for the band’s first set. Lead vocalist, Matthew Wright, sounded just as impressive as he did years ago, but the less than energetic reaction from the crowd initially made me feel that the emotions that people once attached to this band, no longer existed. Opening the night with ‘The Reckoning’ the piano intro instantly took me back to feeling like a teenager and seeing the band for the first time. They continued on with songs, ‘Move Along’, ‘Dark Horses’ and finished their first set with a cover of Fleetwood Mac’s, ‘Dreams’, which was a great choice and helped add to the nostalgia of the night.
But the goods were delivered in the 2nd set! The crowd seemed to wake up and fans began crowd surfing and starting continual circle pits, while the rest of the fans finally started to loudly sing along and mosh around. Matt’s vocals were as good as ever, showing that the only thing that has changed over the years was his length of hair. Transitioning through the tracks on their debut album, including ‘New Medicine’, ‘Shadows’ and ‘A Lovers Complaint’, you could have easily guessed that the band were playing a set in the height of their popularity. One of my favourite things when watching the band play many years ago, would be witnessing the screams that somehow came out of Wright’s mouth during songs like ‘Sleep Spindles’ and ‘Streetlight’ but unfortunately it didn’t transmit into being as good as I was expecting, but this could possibly be because it was drowned up by the screams of the crowd.
Moving through the set, we reached the obvious favourite, ‘Where the City Meets the Sea’, and the crowd exploded, singing along to every single word. Still a personal favourite after all these years, my heart was so happy to hear it again and being played so well. Concluding with their first song ever written, ‘Strings’, it was a great way to end a night filled with so much nostalgia and emotions.
With many bands playing reunion shows these days, which can result in you thinking that maybe they should have stayed in the past, The Getaway Plan, proved that time and age doesn’t have to ruin a good thing. I would be happy to see these guys play over and over again, so here’s hoping that some new music or even a new artistic direction for Matthew comes out in the future!
Reviewer and Photographer : Jessica Ward
[nggallery id = 690]