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THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT / Photo – @alchemi_glow_music_phot

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THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT
+ Hands Like Houses
@ Village Green Hotel,
Melbourne,
22nd February, 2025
(Live Review)

Review and photos by Michael Gow (@alchemi_glow_music_phot)

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THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT / Photo – @alchemi_glow_music_phot

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Last year, The Butterfly Effect embarked on a tour celebrating 20 years since the release of their debut album Begins Here. The tour initially focused on capital cities across Australia, where they played the album in full, along with a selection of tracks from their other records. However, demand was so high that fans were eager for them to visit cities and towns closer to home. The band took notice, posing the question: “Which places would you like to see us play?” What followed was a flood of responses from fans all over Australia.

One of the suggested locations was Ferntree Gully. Unfortunately for fans in that area, the venue where The Butterfly Effect had previously performed no longer hosted concerts. The next best option was a nearby venue capable of holding such an event—The Village Green in Mulgrave. I heard murmurs last night that this might have been the biggest show of the entire regional tour.

As the crowd gathered outside The Village Green, excitement buzzed through the air. Fans wore a mix of old and new The Butterfly Effect merch, eager for the night ahead. Once the doors opened, some rushed to secure a spot at the barrier, while others headed to the bar to kick off their evening. Anticipation built as the support band for the tour, Hands Like Houses, took the stage.

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HANDS LIKE HOUSES / Photo – @alchemi_glow_music_phot

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I had previously only heard of Hands Like Houses in passing but had never taken the time to listen. Tonight’s performance changed that. They opened with Wildfire, and from the first note, I understood why they had gained such a strong following. Their sound was incredible. New vocalist Josh Raven, who joined the band in 2023, proved himself instantly, seamlessly delivering both soaring and melodic vocals. Though Atmospherics—the band’s latest album and first with Josh—was designed around his voice, he also tackled older songs with impressive confidence. Like any new frontman stepping into an established band, he had something to prove, and he delivered.

Throughout the set, Josh engaged with the crowd, stepping down to the barrier and even climbing over it to sing among the fans, getting them to jump and interact. At one point, he asked, “How you guys feeling?” before adding, “It’s amazing to see all of you here tonight, and I just want to say thank you.” Their sound wasn’t just something to headbang to—it was atmospheric (yes, I said it, haha), making you want to move. As their set neared its end, Josh hyped the crowd, announcing, “We have two songs left—are you still with me?” before launching into another high-energy track. The entire band was tight, clearly enjoying themselves, and it translated into an unforgettable performance. After tonight, I’ll be diving into their music, and if you haven’t yet, I highly recommend catching them live.

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HANDS LIKE HOUSES / Photo – @alchemi_glow_music_phot

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Now, it was time for the band everyone had been waiting for—The Butterfly Effect.

They opened with Intro; an instrumental track that saw only the instrumentalists take the stage. As the final notes played, Clint Boge appeared, met with thunderous applause. Standing atop a box at the centre of the stage, he commanded the room as he launched into Perception Twin. From the first line, the crowd erupted, passionately singing along.

Next up was Consequence, with Clint’s soaring vocals cutting through the air as the crowd echoed the emotional lyrics back at him. This was followed by One Second of Insanity, one of the most beloved songs in their catalogue, second perhaps only to Crave. A new addition to the tour was keyboardist Ian Peres, who brought an extra layer to the set, even performing a couple of stripped-back songs with Clint alone on stage.

Though the tour was meant to celebrate Begins Here, now 21 years old, the album remains timeless—a staple of Australian rock history. Many bands that came after The Butterfly Effect were likely inspired by this very record, and some of those musicians might have been in the crowd tonight.

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THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT / Photo – @alchemi_glow_music_phot

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Kurt Goedhart’s energy on stage was infectious, reflecting the passion of the fans. Glenn Esmond didn’t stand still for long either, moving across the stage and engaging with drummer Ben Hall. Speaking of Ben, his drumming was nothing short of phenomenal—his power behind the kit hasn’t wavered one bit over the years.

A highlight of the night was an acoustic rendition of Overwhelmed, featuring Kurt on guitar and Clint on vocals. Stripped down, the song took on a haunting beauty, elevating the set to another level.

Seeing a band like The Butterfly Effect in an intimate venue is a rare and special experience. As they played A.D., the second last song from Begins Here, the realization set in that the album was coming to an end. The chilling spoken-word intro led into Clint’s powerful vocals, with Kurt’s guitar work adding to the song’s haunting intensity. The track ended, the band left the stage tp the song outro, and the crowd braced for the encore.

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THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT / Photo – @alchemi_glow_music_phot

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Minutes later, Clint returned with Ian to perform Gone from their sophomore album Imago, followed by the full band rejoining for Window and the Watcher from Final Conversation of Kings. They then delivered Nil by Mouth from their latest album IV.

Finally, they closed with Reach—a perfect ending to an incredible night. Clint once again stood atop the box, reaching out to the audience as fans reached back. A lone crowd surfer soared above the sea of hands, completely lost in the moment. It was a powerful image, encapsulating just how much this song, and this band, means to people.

And with that, the night was over. This was the 15th stop on their regional tour, celebrating Begins Here, and like every show before it, it was a resounding success. The Butterfly Effect continues to prove why they are such an integral part of Australian rock history—and why their music still resonates just as powerfully today.

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THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT / Photo – @alchemi_glow_music_phot

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Check out Michael Gow’s (@alchemi_glow_music_phot) full gallery of this event HERE

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THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT / Photo – @alchemi_glow_music_phot

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Follow THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT
Youtube – Instagram – Facebook – Spotify

Follow HANDS LIKE HOUSES
Website – Facebook – Instagram – Twitter

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THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT / Photo – @alchemi_glow_music_phot

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Press Release 16th September 2024 (below) HERE

THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT
announce
’21 YEARS OF BEGINS HERE’
‘By Demand Regional Tour’
for early 2025
with special guests
HANDS LIKE HOUSES

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THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT
21 YEARS OF BEGINS HERE
2025 Regional Tour Dates:

With special guests Hands Like Houses

Tickets available from thebutterflyeffectband.com.au

THU 30 JAN | GILLIGAN’S, CAIRNS, QLD | 18+
 FRI 31 JAN | DALRYMPLE HOTEL, TOWNSVILLE, QLD | 18+
SAT 1 FEB | MCGUIRE’S HOTEL, MACKAY, QLD | 18+
SUN 2 FEB | HARVEY ROAD TAVERN, GLADSTONE, QLD | 18+
THU 6 FEB | KINGS BEACH TAVERN, CALOUNDRA, QLD | 18+
FRI 7 FEB | RACECOURSE HOTEL, IPSWICH, QLD | 18+
SAT 8 FEB | SOPO, GOLD COAST, QLD | 18+
SUN 9 FEB | HOEY MOEY, COFFS HARBOUR, NSW | 18+
THU 13 FEB | DRIFTERS WHARF, GOSFORD, NSW | 18+
FRI 14 FEB | WAVES, WOLLONGONG, NSW | 18+
SAT 15 FEB | PANTHERS, PENRITH, NSW | 18+
SUN 16 FEB | DEE WHY RSL, DEE WHY, NSW | 18+
THU 20 FEB | BEER DELUXE, ALBURY, NSW | 18+
FRI 21 FEB | TORQUAY HOTEL, TORQUAY, VIC | 18+
SAT 22 FEB | VILLAGE GREEN, FERNTREE GULLY, VIC | 18+
SUN 23 FEB | PIER HOTEL, FRANKSTON, VIC | 18+
THU 27 FEB | SETTLERS TAVERN, MARGARET RIVER, WA | 18+
FRI 28 FEB | PRINCE OF WALES, BUNBURY, WA | 18+
SAT 1 MAR | FREO SOCIAL, FREMANTLE, WA | 18+
SUN 2 MAR | LOOP, JOONDALUP, WA | 18+
THU 6 MAR | THEATRE ROYALE, CASTLEMAINE, VIC | 18+
FRI 7 MAR | THE SETTS, MILDURA, VIC | 18+
SAT 8 MAR | BEER & BBQ FEST, MT GAMBIER, SA | 18+
SUN 9 MAR | BRIDGEWAY HOTEL, POORAKA, SA | 18+
FRI 14 MAR | DISCOVERY, DARWIN, NT | 18+

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AMNPLIFY – DB