Link to our Facebook
Link to our Instagram
Link to our TikTok

Live Review: PREMIERE: Machine Age shares unplugged video for 'Fighting' + announce East Coast tour

2 February 2018 | 12:01 pm | Emma Jones

Machine Age gear up for a big 2018 with a stripped back and intimate new version of their standout single, Fighting, and an East Coast tour next month!

What was once an utterly explosive, driving song has been stripped down to its purest form in the latest release from Brisbane duo, MACHINE AGE. Following on from the recent success of their standout single, 'Fighting', at the end of 2017, the pair have now shaken things up and shared an unplugged, stripped back visual accompaniment that not only highlights the sheer talent the two possess, but also the versatility of their music.

Although we have a soft spot for the original version in all its jagged, razor-sharp glory, there is something remarkable about the way frontman Adrian Mauro and live percussionist Dylan Stewart have taken the bare bones of their song and flipped it on it's head to create an intimate, vulnerable new version that will tug at your heartstrings. Where the original was bold and defiant, this version sees 'Fighting' take on a fragility that you would not expect given the explosive nature of its predecessor. However, such is the skill of Machine Age, this new version stands on its own, and the simplicity of the visuals only further amplify this.

Filmed in simple black and white, the pair play together on the same piano, with small flicks and flutters of percussion courtesy of Stewart to keep the song moving along. Mauro's impeccable vocals take centre stage here in a way that isn't possible in the original version, and the intimacy of the vocals is exemplified because of it. The word "stunning" gets thrown around a lot these days, but this version truly is stunning, and is a testament to the potential and promise that Machine Age have coming into 2018.

Plug into the latest music with our FREE weekly newsletter

Mauro said of the inspiration behind the video, “By doing a stripped back version of "Fighting", I wanted to make it more accessible and show it in its most basic form. There's a lot going on in the studio version and the mash of genres (which is what we're all about) can be quite polarizing to some. Although once I decided to play it on Piano, I knew I still wanted to keep it fresh, so incorporating some prepared piano elements with my drummer Dylan seemed like an obvious but organic way to keep it interesting.”

The good news doesn't stop here though, folks, as the duo have also announced today that they'll be embarking on a quick three-date tour along the East Coast of Australia. Hitting their hometown of Brisbane first on March 2nd, Machine Age will then play in Melbourne and Sydney before setting to work on some forthcoming notable collaborations still in the works.

It's exciting times ahead for Machine Age, so tickets to these intimate shows aren't going to last long. Check out the dates below and catch them in action before they well and truly blow up!

MACHINE AGE

EAST COAST TOUR DATES

FRI 2 MAR | THE MILK FACTORY, BRISBANE QLD

w/ beneb

FRI 9 MAR | PENNY BLACK, MELBOURNE VIC

SAT 10 MAR | FRANKIE’S, SYDNEY NSW

Image via Facebook

Words by Emma Jones

SEE ALSO