Saturday 7 September
Supports: CHEZ, Peni Parker
Brisbane’s The Brightside was transformed into a pink sorority house (akin to that of Elle Woods, Legally Blonde) for Scene Queen’s final SHAKE YOUR AUS sold out show on Saturday night and you can bet that music fans came out in droves. Well before doors opened, the line swam around the Fortitude Valley block.
By the time everyone entered, the venue was literally packed out and I did wonder for a minute how this show didn’t get upgraded to the outdoor area. Kicking off the evening (or shall I say, hazing?) was Sydney alternative/rock artist Peni Parker. A young femme musician up-and-coming in the local music scene, she weaned the audience into the night with her Aussie-tinged rock laced with queer pop sensibilities.
There must be something in the waters over in Western Australia this year because every act we’ve come across from the side of the country has absolutely blown us away. First RinRin and Increment, now 27 year old Chezni Watson, or CHEZ as she is more commonly known. As soon as she burst out on stage that evening, all eyes were drawn to her magnificent aura for the next half hour. CHEZ had us in a trance through her edgy blend of alternative/pop and R&B fusion with tracks like ‘HYMN‘, ‘Friends‘ and latest single ‘So Good‘. The inbetween banter provided insight into her bubbly personality and it was just even more proof that she is a rockstar in the making. What a queen!
It was definitely an evening for your inner femme fatale to be unleashed. Scene Queen has been increasingly known for her blend of heavy mesh of metalcore, induced with explosive pop hooks, she’s penned in as “bimbocore”. The hardcore fans entering the gig with pink cowgirl hats and various shades of pink has become part of the Scene Queen dresscode.
Straight off the back of two shows in Melbourne and Sydney, Scene Queen hit the ground running with three tracks from her debut LP, Hot Singles In Your Area. From ‘Pink Push-Up Bra‘ to ‘18+‘, she pranced across the small stage, shimmering with confidence that was aweinspiring. The cheeky pop vibes throughout each song transitioned into a whirlwind of heavy-tinged metalcore and if this show was a trial run for a future festival set — well, folks, Scene Queen passed the test in our eyes. I would personally love to see that “twerkle pit” from ‘Pink G-String‘ be the centre of attention at a Good Things event. Even Knotfest metalheads would have a bit of fun with this Scene Queen.
However, through all the fast-paced action, she did take a few moments to slow down and let her first Australian tour memory sink in. What felt like a week of flight delays and chaos back home, Scene Queen’s enthusiasm shone through til the very end. Inviting two excitable fans on stage for her “initiation ceremony”, she attempted to explain the US sorority system to Australians (most of which went over everyone’s heads anyway), but what struck a chord with everyone in the Brightside is the absolute sense of community she thrusts upon her little music community. Applying her sorority experiences into her music has given her a unique spin, making Scene Queen much more than just your average alternative rockstar.
We look forward to her returning to Australia very soon, with our bets being on a bigger tour. Or a festival stage!
Revisit and get to know more about Scene Queen in our interview here
Review by Tamara May
Photos by Sebastian Belvedere @seabass.snaps
