On Friday the 14th of November, Australian pop-metalcore band Melrose Avenue got to grace the stage of Arnhem’s Luxor live with their presence. While the band was slightly delayed and therefore the doors wouldn’t open until 19:30, there were already about 25 people in the queue 1,5 hours before. Some people said that the very first fined had shown up at 10 in the morning just to make sure they would get a good spot and meet the band. Fans had also brought gifts for the main act, who did in fact have a meet and greet scheduled later in the evening. The vibe outside was relaxed and friendly. Luxor Live carried the same charismatic charm as Paradiso in Amsterdam does: historic, warm, and buzzing with anticipation before the show even began.
The night opened with Comastatic, a rising alternative rock band from Zurich, Switzerland, consisting of guitarist Giuliano ‘Jules’ Luongo and singer Mattia di Paolo. Formed in 2022 and signed to Hopeless Records, their music blends chaos with vulnerability, capturing the feeling of watching the world fall apart while encouraging listeners to keep moving and speak up. After a short musical intro, Comastatic leapt onto the stage and kicked off the night with their first song, ‘Zorro.’ Di Paolo greeted the crowd with a cheerful “How are you doing”’ before introducing the band and sharing their excitement to be at Luxor Live. He also mentioned they had released a new song that same day called ‘Swayed.’ “Put your hands up!” he shouted, and the crowd immediately responded.
Fans swayed and bobbed their heads as the band performed with high energy. Di Paolo then introduced a slower song, ‘Halo,’ asking the crowd to sing along. Afterward, he thanked everyone warmly before hyping the next track, a collaboration with the night’s main act. When he asked, “Who’s excited to see Melrose Avenue?”’ the crowd erupted. Comastatic played the song, and the chorus had the whole room clapping along. The band then asked if it was okay to play some heavier material, launching into ‘Primitive,’ one of the most intense moments of the night. They closed their set with ‘Self Sabotage,’ leaving the crowd buzzing with energy. Even as an opening act, Comastatic proved why they’re gaining attention, delivering raw honesty, high energy, and a genuine connection with the audience.
After a brief intermission, the room’s anticipation for Melrose Avenue reached an all-time high. Hailing from Sydney, Australia, the band consists of lead vocalist Vlado Saric, guitarists Mitchell Black and Shawn Mayer (who also sings the backing vocals), and drummer Jed McIntosh. Formed in 2022 by Saric and Mayer, the band released their first track, ‘Enemy,’ in October 2022 and performed at the Las Vegas festival When We Were Young in 2024. Their sound is immediately recognizable, with melodious vocals that occasionally erupt into raucous screams layered over punchy, guitar-driven instrumentals. During intermission, McIntosh and Mayer did a quick soundcheck, and the crowd cheered as the rest of the band walked onstage. Saric opened the set by greeting the audience, asking if they were ready to party, and launching into ‘Fool and the Begger.’ He thanked everyone for coming and introduced ‘Enemy,’ the very first track they released, followed by ‘Inside Your Mind.’ The crowd headbanged and swayed along, fully immersed in the performance.
Saric shared the band’s challenging travel day – they were delayed for 14 hours at customs traveling from London to the Netherlands – and thanked the audience for their patience. He mentioned that his voice was a little strained, prompting supportive applause from the crowd. ‘Black Heart’ followed, with Mayer singing the second verse, and Saric proudly announced that all of their European shows were sold out, promising they would return. After a quick water break, a fan handed Saric a raccoon plushie, which he adored, and he asked if there were any BookTok fans in the room. The response was huge, the largest BookTok turnout of the tour, and he introduced ‘Taste,’ a song written for that community. A water bottle fell onstage, prompting Saric to ask for a towel and to check how the crowd pronounces ‘towel’ in Dutch. Mishearing the response, he jokingly yelled “cockring pls!” and had the crowd burst into laughter. After cleaning up, he asked again about Dutch pronunciation, including ‘cockring,’ and the band moved into ‘Deep End,’ with the audience fully engaged.
For ‘Body Bag,’ the band urged that no one should stand still, and the crowd obeyed. After the song, fans held up a sign asking, ‘Can we teach you a Dutch song?’ Vlado enthusiastically agreed. They taught him to sing “bier en tieten lalala”, which he repeated and had the entire crowd singing, joking he would perform it for the rest of the tour. Melrose Avenue then played ‘This Is The End,’ a new release, and Saric shared that he cried the last time he performed it, but made it through this time. Fans cheered, and someone gave him licorice for his throat. The band followed with ‘Bad Guy,’ received a Melrose Avenue flag from the audience, and moved into ‘Reflections.’ Saric said they had an amazing time and wished they could play a longer set. Before ‘Through Hell,’ he asked for the audience to put up their phone flashlights, filling the room with light, and they ended the night with ‘Suffering,’ with fans singing along. The band closed by blowing kisses and making heart signs with their hands, a heartfelt finale to a high-energy, deeply engaging show.
The night perfectly showcased both Comastatic and Melrose Avenue, with two bands delivering raw emotion, humor, vulnerability, and connection. Fans left the venue buzzing, proving why live music still has the power to unite, energize, and inspire.
