Main picture: Iconic Aussie rock legends Cog play to a packed house at Kings Beach Tavern on Friday. Yelo photographer and occasional word slinger Ben Russoniello reflects on the night.
Cog slipped in on an electro-synth hum and almost telepathic signal that rippled across the room. It hit everyone at once, sending a quiet shiver up my spine. People were rubbing their arms as goosebumps appeared.
Just like that a sea of smiles erupted and the crowd instinctively sang back to the on-stage legends. It felt less like an intro, and more like the band plugging directly into the collective pulse of the room. From there, everything moved with that signature Cog precision. Breakdowns landed effortlessly, riffs stretched then snapped tight, and each shift felt both calculated and completely natural.
These guys don’t just hype up the crowd, they cut straight to the truth. And somehow managed to shine a light on the state of the world without ever drifting into empty preaching. What stood out, though, was the sense of unity threaded through the whole set. There was an unspoken vibe of pulling people together. Strangers nodded at each other, and voices rose in the same breath.
It was one of those rare moments where a band can make a room feel like it’s on the same side of something bigger. Heavy, hopeful, and impossible to look away from. Cog didn’t just perform; they created a moment, and everyone in the room knew it.
It was all I could feel.
Cog @ Kings Beach Tavern in pictures
What do you think?
Show comments / Leave a comment