The Jungle Giant's “Quiet Ferocity” Rings Loud and Clear
Sam Hale of The Jungle Giants takes note at Schubas Tavern.
The Jungle Giants made the best of not having a green room backstage Saturday night by gathering at the base of highly congested steps, readying themselves to ascend the stage at Schubas Tavern. The Brisbane band from Australia formed a four-mate huddle, bobbed up and down and chanted words of inspiration, solidarity and encouragement. It was a brief, seemingly private act, made public by circumstance, as I literally rubbed shoulders with two of the members as their pre-show ritual continued to blossom before me. I turned to my left and an affable gentleman, I later identified as their manager Stu McCullough, smiled at me and said, “Tonight, you’re in the band”. I nodded appreciatively, raised my camera above the huddle, hesitated, then didn’t take a single pic.
Promoting their third studio album “Quiet Ferocity”, The Jungle Giants arrived at Schubas Tavern ready to define this release with their soft vocals diametrically paired with thunderous bass lines, snappy drums and highlighted by incredibly bright guitars, driving the crowd to unrelenting levels of adoration. The love was mutual, with vocalist Sam Hale allowing a fan to strum his guitar, causing women to swoon and shaking the hands of a faithful follower in the throes of nirvana. Guitarist Cesira Aitken, prompted fans to drain their reserves of danceable energy, willed them to, culminating in a granular act of ferocity, almost lost in light and sound, gifting an in-show earring to a disbelieving fan. The Jungle Giants resonated, their message crushed.
Despite having my ultra-wide lens equipped, I don't regret not snapping a quick pic of the pre-show, up and awkwardly close-quartered huddle. Doing so would have made me feel invasive, a break in privacy and trust between artist and photographer, between me and their manager. It's one digital moment that may have "gotten away", but I think in this case, taking a picture doesn't make it last longer. Sure, I can’t share this visual anecdote on Instagram, but the image in my head makes it explicitly mine, a pic flawlessly in focus, a result of my fanboy admiration and my camera’s inability to accurately capture this moment.
Full Gallery: The Jungle Giants @ Schubas Tavern
Front and center, lead guitarist Aitken draws a crowd.