Sombr | Festival Hall
Sombr took to Melbourne for his debut Australia show of the ‘The Late Nights & Young Romance Tour’. Driving through west Melbourne to Festival Hall before the show, the only view in sight was devoted fans queued up in the street in every direction surrounding the venue, eager to get in. ‘The Late Nights and Young Romance Tour’ takes him throughout North America, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe, as well as seeing him play four festival sets at Spilt Milk in Ballarat, Perth, Canberra, and the Gold Coast.
Following Sombr on tour for a few of his shows is Aussie-made band Dust, showcasing a post-punk sound. Dust was created in Newcastle, New South Wales, and features a wide variety of instruments to boost their sound. The band, comprising vocalists and guitarists Gabriel Stove and Justin Teale, bassist Liam Smith, guitarist and saxophonist Adam Ridgway, and drummer Kye Cherry, includes elements of electronic, jazz, and dark punk to create an intensifying atmosphere. They showcased their debut album ‘Sky is Falling’, featuring songs like ‘Alastair’ and ‘Just Like Ice’, as well as playing other popular hits like ‘New High’ and ‘Trust You See’.
Although we can’t be sure, there may have been some technical setbacks causing a small delay to Sombr’s start time for his first Melbourne show. The crowd were nothing but keen regardless, and he certainly didn’t disappoint. What an entrance he made. The 20-year-old, whose real name is Shane Michael Boose but goes by Sombr, brought flair and extravagance, with his band following that tone on stage. You could truly tell they love what they do.
The audience were treated to a variety of songs from his touring album ‘I Barely Know Her’, which he released back in August. He started with bangers like ‘I Wish I Knew How to Quit You’ and finished with massive hits like ‘12 to 12’ and ‘Undressed’, knowing exactly how to keep the crowd on their toes. The alternative indie-rock blend showcases his vocal range while creating rich rhythms that pull all the layers together.
Sombr has an incredible backstory to his rise to stardom, and it heavily relates to the first and favourite song he wrote at 16, titled ‘Caroline’. Feeling hopeless and fed up with school, he posted a recording of the song online. It blew up overnight, and he was flown to LA for record deals shortly after. Although he is young, the emotional reach of his music is vast. He has a powerful message throughout his songs, aiming to offer support and connection. At the show, he told the crowd, “If you ever feel alone in this world, you aren’t, because you’ll always have me.”
Still with one more festival show to play in Victoria, he will be sure to bring his spirited energy and incredible vocal performance to Ballarat on Saturday before heading to Perth, Canberra, and the Gold Coast to finish his Spilt Milk run, then continue his own tour throughout Europe. Lucky fans across Australia have plenty of exciting things coming their way with Dust and Sombr, and fans across the world will too. With so many shows over the next six months, it is certainly not something you want to miss.