LIVE REVIEW: Methyl Ethel – Fortitude Music Hall

Methyl Ethel has been trying to tour for the past two years, but leaving Western Australia proved to be an issue with all of the lockdowns. So his Brisbane show at Fortitude Music Hall marked Jake Webb (aka Methyl Ethel) and his band’s first gig out of the 6000 postcode, and it felt like a big celebratory moment.

He did something that I wish more artists did, and he played his new record ‘Are You Haunted?’ from start to finish, exactly the way the album was intended to be heard. Soaked in moody lighting, the band took to the stage for the cinematic opener ‘Ghosting’. From there early singalong’s were ignited with ‘Proof’, ‘Something To Worry About’, and ‘Neon Cheap’, while ‘One And Beat’ and ‘Matters’ kept the energy high in the second half of the album.

“Hey, we haven’t seen each other in a long time” Webb proclaimed as he looked out at the crowd. His banter was short and direct with the crowd, except for a brief moment where he had to change the batteries in his keyboard which saw him opening up a conversation to fill in time. But the focus was on the music, and the incredible energy they created.

As they finished playing the album they steered into a little set of fan favourites with Post-Blue, ‘Trip The Mains’, ‘Ruiner’, Scream Whole’ and ‘Ubu’ rounding out the show. It was a moody and theatrical leaning show that brought out the drama of the album and highlighted why Methyl Ethel is one of Australia’s true indie-pop gems.

Check out the full gallery captured by Phoebe Hudson Photography BELOW;