Photography: Bree May O’Hagan
Words: Chloe Abotomey

By the time Thursday night rolled around at the Corner Hotel, it was clear this was no ordinary midweek show. Both nights of The Belair Lip Bombs’ run at the venue had sold out, a strong reflection of the growing momentum behind the Melbourne indie four-piece.

Inside the packed bandroom, the atmosphere felt closer to a weekend headline show than a Thursday night gig. Fans filled the room early, crowding toward the stage in anticipation of a band whose reputation for energetic, guitar-driven performances has been steadily building across the local scene.

The set opened with Again and Again. Its bright opening chords immediately cut through the room and set the tone for the night. From the outset, the scale of the band’s live sound was unmistakable. It was bold, expansive and powerful enough to command every corner of the venue.

Frontwoman Maisie Everett led the performance with confident ease. Her vocals moved between cool detachment and emotional urgency, bringing a sharp edge to the band’s guitar-driven arrangements while allowing the instrumentals to carry much of the momentum.

Material from their recent album Again translated seamlessly to the stage. The band’s knack for crafting tightly structured indie rock with memorable hooks was evident throughout the set, with several choruses prompting spontaneous singalongs from the crowd.

Despite the size of their sound, the band remained impressively tight throughout the performance. The rhythm section anchored each track while the guitars rang out with a mix of shimmering brightness and gritty distortion, creating an expansive sound that filled the room without losing clarity.

As the set moved into its closing stretch, the sold-out crowd was fully locked in. The energy in the room continued to build as the band powered through the final songs, delivering a performance that felt both polished and commanding.

For a Thursday night, it carried the weight of something much bigger. With two sold-out nights at the Corner Hotel and a live sound capable of filling every inch of the room, The Belair Lip Bombs appear to be a band moving confidently toward the next stage of their rise.