It Takes Courage: Concert Review

Another artist who has been non-stop this year is Noah Dillon. Having already toured in April, he’s heading back around the country to celebrate the release of his EP, Soft. I’ve been a fan of the Fremantle singer for a few years, so was eager to see him perform again so soon and get a taste of some new music live on stage!

This is what happened at Noah Dillon’s Soft show at the Black Bear Lodge on October 24th, 2024.

Blue Diner

Blue Diner joined Noah Dillon again, after opening for him previously in April. The Meanjin-based band describe themselves as “quiet & loud” which is a contradictory but accurate description of their sound on stage. Pairing whisper-soft vocals with punk rock instrumentals, Blue Diner has a unique sound that I hope the band will have an opportunity to share on a larger scale in future. At least one of the band’s songs, with their cool and edgy sound, would definitely make the cut if you asked me to assemble a soundtrack for a Twilight film reboot. While the films are contentious, one thing that we can all agree on is that the soundtrack is pure late-2000s indie rock bliss and Blue Diner is making me nostalgic for that time AND excited for their future.

Fave song: Mezzanine

01 Thurman

Tonight’s new entry on the list of epic support acts is 01 Thurman, headed up by Brisbane musician Josh Bartlett. The nostalgia continues here, but we’ve swapped out moody Seattle teens for something more reminiscent of garage post-punk. Bartlett and his band are passionate performers, energetically embodying the music, but balanced by Bartlett’s drive and focus as he leads the band confidently on stage. Clever lyrics and a skilful instrumental arrangement will pique your interest early into their set and keep you hooked throughout. My first impression of the band is good, but I’m curious to see what they’ll do next. I hope more touring acts will make use of local talent like 01 Thurman in future. I could easily imagine them opening for Waax, Bad Dreems or DZ Deathrays and seeing them in a lineup would be a bonus reason to buy a ticket!

Fave song: Real Estate

Noah Dillon

Soft makes total sense for Noah Dillon. It’s a collection of songs about being unequivocally yourself but tonight that means being ‘soft’ – allowing yourself to be vulnerable and kind in the face of hardships because if we can all be our authentic, unguarded selves we’d have no need to arm ourselves emotionally. I’ve always thought of Dillon as brave in his ability to express himself openly and freely. Let It Out, I Can’t, Alive and Kicking and That’s Just How I Feel are the songs I usually hear on the radio. These songs are invigorating and it’s hard not to dance enthusiastically, flipping off some imaginary challenge in the chorus of I Can’t because it feels fun to do. These are staples that it’ll be hard for Dillon to shake out of his set list. I don’t think he’d want to get rid of them either, because the band always looks like they’re having the time of their life during these crowdpleasers.

But the second side of Noah is equally unrestrained, albeit expressed differently. The songs often begin with just his voice and a guitar before building to an instrumental, explosive climax where there’s probably something close to screaming in the mic and some pained expressions as Dillon lets himself show feelings on stage. While Knievel Daredevil is probably his most famous “sad” song, this year we’ve been watching a public mourning in the form of I Still Adore You. Seen live, this is a visceral display of grief – it’s raw and relatable, beautiful and tragic, and a little uncomfortable at points. If you’ve lost someone you love unexpectedly, bring tissues. This one can be hard… but joining Dillon in sharing this moment is exactly what Soft is about.

Don’t worry, the show itself isn’t sad! After a brief exploration of these concepts, Dillon and the band continuously amp up the energy until we reach an explosive finale. We were given a one-song encore (Noah Dillon-style!) but many of us could have kept going for another half hour to get more of that manic musical energy inserted directly through our ears. Dillon was happy to chat at the merch stand after the show and can often be found in the crowd during the support acts, so make sure you follow in his lead and get to his next gig (early!). 

Fave song: It Takes Courage To be Soft

Sounds good?

There are a few more dates on the Soft tour, so get your tickets quickly! You’ll get to see some local support acts instead of the Meanjin-based bands I saw, but don’t forget to follow Blue Diner and 01 Thurman on socials to check when you can next catch them at a show. If you like Noah Dillon, you might also like:

Waax – Now the solo project of Maz DeVita, this act’s explosive punk-rock music has excited fans for awhile. If the emotional vulnerability that makes Dillon fascinating is something you appreciate, DeVita brings that same rawness to her music that creates and instant connection with the crowd.

Bean Magazine – Bean Magazine blend classic rock vibes with hard-hitting punk vocals. They’re a headbanger band with a fun catalogue of suns and a manic stage presence, forming a group that is as fun to watch as they are to sing along with!

Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers – With exciting rock riffs and passionate vocals, Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers know how to start a riot. Their music is unrestrained and unafraid of emphasising emotion as they channel the experience of girlhood and youth into their writing.