Project Description

PLINI
+MESTIS +
DAVID MAXIM MICIC

“Sunhead Tour”

@ Corner Hotel

15/09/18

(Live review)

Reviewer & Photographer: Anne-Laure Marie

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PLINI

PLINI // Photo – Anne-Laure Marie

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Melbourne was the last show of Plini’s successful Australian headlining tour promoting his new EP Sunhead released on July 27. It seems to be tradition for Plini to surround himself with friends not only to accompany him on stage but as well as supports when touring as following him on the road were David Maxim Micic and Mestis a.k.a Javier Reyes (Animal As Leaders).

Coming all the way from Serbia David Maxim Micic opened the night with an epic 40 minutes set. I didn’t know him and hadn’t really listened to his music beforehand, almost on purpose as I find there is always something special in discovering an artist during their live performance. There is so much that could be said it is nearly overwhelming but one thing that stayed with me was ‘Damar’ & Someone Else’s Hat’ from his 2017 album Who Bit the Moon. I felt any sound produced were actually words that spoke to me and took my hand to invite me in a journey into my deepest feelings and imagination. And so did the crowd it seems as when David announced the last song everyone exclaimed in disappointment for more. If you like dreamy and emotional progressive rock sound, you want to dig his latest release Who Bit The Moon.

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DAVID MAXIM MICIC

DAVID MAXIM MICIC // Photo – Anne-Laure Marie

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Second special guest artist to accompany Plini on this tour is Mestis, solo project of Javier Reyes (Animals as Leaders). It is always exciting when one member of a largely successful band decides to take on the path of solo project and knowing Animal As Leaders heavy sound I was curious to see what Javier Reyes had to offer. In an interview he stated that “I’ve always wanted to create a style of music that focused on being emotionally exploitative and technically sound, yet simple enough for the average music listener to appreciate. To create music that expressed my personality, upbringing, emotions and musical taste.” I had read those lines while listening to his recent release  Eikasia and it was to my pleasure that I agreed with his words : a beautiful jazzy groovy album with some Hispanic vibes where each song has its own story to tell.  Even as an average listener you can appreciate the technicality behind each composition and seeing him on stage performing was a delight, with his lips mimicking every note he would produce he is one of those artists where you can witness the fusion of the musician with his (oh dear god 8 strings) guitar. It was not a surprise as for David, the crowd was eager to hear more and could have done with a longer set.

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MESTIS

MESTIS // Photo – Anne-Laure Marie

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It is past 11pm and time for Plini to hit the stage. After seeing him previously three times, and each time being a complete different excellent experience, I was wondering how I could be surprised. To be honest, I would not say his performance left me surprised in the conventional sense. Where I was surprised is that I was enjoying it equally if not more than the previous times. So how come? A first important thing about Plini is that beyond being a talented musician he is also an entertainer constantly involving the audience. There is no room for being disinterested, his candid and humorist nature either when interacting with the crowd or intimately engaging with his acolytes on stage keeps you smiling and captivated the whole time. Secondly, in the light of his personality, the sound of his music is pure and delightful, for a new listener there would be an unexpected turn behind each riff, for a an experienced listener an expected constant appreciation. Plini has recently released his new EP  Sunhead and technically this is where the main difference lied from his previous shows. He decided to start with “Salt + Charcoal” which is certainly one of his best compositions to open a set with as it is a gentle yet powerful track slowly getting you into what big will be coming next. Jumping from “Sunhead” to “Handmade Cities” or even “Heart” and “Selenium Forest” from the long time EP Other Things, the whole set has been a mixture of old and new, giving the opportunity to the audience to feel at home while discovering the new stuff.

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PLINI

PLINI // Photo – Anne-Laure Marie

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Finally, Plini would not be Plini without his amazing session band, composed of Simon Grove (Bass), Jake Howsam Lowe (Guitar) and Chris Allison (Drums). Those guys are equally amazing and talented musicians, all wizards in their own instruments who featured in all three sets, which is a real prowess and added a sense of family atmosphere to the whole night.

 

PLINI

PLINI // Photo – Anne-Laure Marie

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Overall, it was a night that reminded me and certainly everyone in the room what live music is, and I can’t wait to see these guys again, hopefully in a not so distant future. And please, do yourself a favour and check out their work all featured at the bottom of this article!

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PLINI

PLINI // Photo – Anne-Laure Marie

 

Check out Anne-Laure Marie’s gallery of the show HERE

 

Connect with Plini

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Connect with Mestis

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Connect with David Maxim Micic

Facebook  Instagram  Website

 

 

AMNPLIFY _ DT