KING PARROT @ Bad Luck Bar - Brisbane, 8th April 2023
Review + Images by Day West
The atmosphere walking into Brisbane’s ‘Bad Luck’ Bar (on its 2nd weekend open, following Lagerstein) was contagious. Buzzing. Bad Luck immediately asserts itself as a major player amongst the heavy music scene and hit the ground running with King Parrot serenading their new space this Easter weekend and nailing something to the cross (– not Jesus –) but their charged energetic set.
Back in Brisbane gracing us once again, King Parrot charged into tracks ‘Silly ol mate’, ‘Disgrace yourself’ & ‘Bozo’ with their signature style: raw + pure unbridled energy. It was pure chaos from stage to crowd…my shoes were struggling to find stable ground amongst the passionate, slightly *pushy patrons who craved that adrenaline fuelled mosh. King Parrot fans are bold, dedicated, and rowdy, and my eyes were darting from stage to mosh, unsure of what was more entertaining. The passionate fans screaming every which way or vocalist Matt’s charismatic stage presence?…you’ll have to attend a show to decide for yourself.
Image by Day West
After taking a breather from the camera ‘danger zone’ mid-set, I moseyed down to the back of the venue to observe a few songs from safety. Even from 20m back, I was just as entertained, nestling my cranberry juice close and enthusiastically bobbing my head to ‘Dead End’ & ‘Lawnmower Dog’ before throwing myself back into that unbridled chaos.
During ‘Entrapment’ I found myself pinned between an amp and a pregnant woman and I had front-row tickets to the ‘I Love King Parrot’ tits show. Not realising prior to this song, fans were revealing themselves all around... ‘Am I at Black Sabbath again?’ I thought. Slightly taken back, Matt joked ‘Well I think this is a first!’ If the tits are out – I guess it confirms King Parrot are seen as true rockstars to Brisbane natives. One enthusiastic fan got on stage baring all, before diving blissfully into the arms of the boisterous audience. Bris was not holding back tonight. Talk about christening a new bar.
Image by Day West
Towards the end of the show, a massive space opened and the crowd surfing and pit pushing elevated just that bit more. A packed-out space, a sea of arms, legs, and sweaty hair. It was a jumble of limbs contorting around the words of ‘Bite your head off’ and ‘Shit on the liver’. The tenacious crowd somehow growing in energy rather than tiring despite their worthy physical commitment as patrons, was a solid effort, one probably fuelled by rum and parrot love.
KP didn’t disappoint the bris collective, punching through a tremendously rigorous set, full of electricity, married with their underlying sincere candor – King Parrot are a charismatic kind bunch who continue to love what they do.
