In The Mosh 001: COLLAR's Live Debut
Words by Joshua Bowling (Dream Coast)
After making a strong debut with the Strangest Desires EP last month, producer Charles Murdoch and Spencer White (Morning Harvey & Orphans Orphans) took to the stage for the first time as COLLAR on November the 21st. Performing at the Brightside Outdoor stage to close Brisbane’s Valley Fiesta 2020, the duo presented a mesmerising audio visual set that succeeded in immersing the audience in their distinctly dark soundscape.
Entering the stage through a thick layer of smoke, COLLAR began their set with a cavernous swell of modular synth warbles. After building the ambient atmosphere, the pair dropped the instrumental ‘Euclid’ to a warm response, the pulsating low-end very welcome. Following a recent easing of venue restrictions in Queensland, concert-goers seemed to revel in the opportunity to let loose on the dancefloor. COLLAR were happy to oblige, with several high-tempo tracks raising the energy early in the set.
White swaggered his way up to the microphone for a number of unreleased songs, each showcasing his brooding lyrics and Nick Cave-esque gothic stylings. White’s baritone delivery is intoxicatingly dark, complementing Murdoch’s layers of heavily processed granular pads. One new song with the effortlessly catchy hook “I’m tripping over myself” was particularly memorable as the chug of the modular synthesiser worked the packed crowd into a trancelike shuffle. Preceded by White’s nonchalant “Feel free to do something, dance maybe”, set highlight ‘Strangest Desires’ saw the lights become blood-red, strobing hypnotically with the skittering drum pattern. Throughout the night, Murdoch’s innovative programming for the lighting installation was captivating to say the least. The flickering onstage LED columns cast their glow across the smoke-filled sky, perfectly synchronised with songs like the euphoric EP closer ‘Tomorrow I’ll Disappear’.
The Brisbane music community was out in force, with members of Hatchie, Sycco and First Beige amongst others spotted enjoying the midnight set. Funk-lords First Beige had just headlined a suitably cosmic sold-out show at The Tivoli, also as part of Valley Fiesta. As a whole, the post-lockdown optimism of the Festival was palpable, the visceral experience of COLLAR’s AV live show seemed to unify the audience. For a set filled with unreleased and new songs, COLLAR look and sound very polished and well-rehearsed, all the more impressive in that it was their first performance.
COLLAR will be returning to the stage on November 27 as part of Yonder Festival. We caught up with COLLAR a few weeks ago to premiere and discuss the origins of the group and how they approached the writing of the Strangest Desires EP.