Due to unforeseen, unexplained and unannounced circumstances, the lineup for tonight's performance has been trimmed by one, with local five-piece Martyr Privates cancelling their appearance at the last minute. However disappointing this may be, the show must always go on. 

Nature Trails start off the night with a brooding tone all too befitting to the dreariness occurring outside the venue. Their sound immediately attacks your heart, gut and feet, due to the fact that this trio have managed to achieve what countless others have attempted and failed at over the years - creating sad songs you can dance to. Their mastery comes from a superb balance of the utterly grim, haunting and moaning vocals, with the 80's style synth-pop beats and bright jangly guitar parts. This balance is showcased to particular effect with tracks from their release of last year, In Glass; Ode To Sea, Chaste and Hollow State (the deep, rumbling moan of this track is seriously something to behold in the flesh), as well as more recent track Juncture, which has some seriously playful and captivating guitar work. 

Local shoegaze stalwarts Deafcult are next to take the stage, wasting no time in bombarding the audience with their now signature fuzzed-out-wall-of-sound-noise-pop, kicking it all off with Beemomug. Vocalist Innez Tulloch requests for the light on her to be turned off early on in proceedings, which turns out to be the right move as the five-piece complete the rest of their set in near darkness, adding a killer dynamic to their performance. 

While there are a few sound related hiccups as Mere Women commence their set, all mishaps are quickly forgotten due to the sheer ferocity and showmanship of front woman Katrina Byrne, who jumps, yells, croons and wallows to utterly beguiling effect throughout the performance. Byrne's performance can only be matched by that of guitar slinging comrade, Flyn McKinnirey, who takes the words "intense", "focus", and "craftsmanship" to a whole new level - he seems to straddle the very thin line of musical genius and eccentric showman with the greatest of ease. We are also introduced to a new band member this evening, Trisch Roberts on bass, who quickly wins over the audience, with at least one supportive punter calling out words of encouragement throughout the set. Byrne states that she doesn't know how they ever went so long without having a bass player with them on stage and the presence is heavily felt, particularly on track Golden, where Roberts adds a thumping almost party-driven bass line to the chorus. We are treated to the band's new single Numb which they are here to launch, as well as most tracks from their 2014 release Your Town, before the band quickly sets to work dismantling their equipment - keeping the performance short and sweet.

Possibly more disappointing than the fact that Martyr Privates didn't perform tonight is that Melbournites Gold Class (who teamed up with Mere Women for the split 7" being launched this evening) weren't able to join proceedings, as it would have been magical to see the two bands on the same bill. Here's hoping they'll join forces for a Brisbane show sometime soon.

- Jazmine O'Sullivan