On Saturday night one of Australia’s most beloved and authentic punk bands, Mach Pelican, played their final ever Adelaide show. After immigrating to Australia from Japan in 1996 the band have become true statesmen of the Australian music scene, playing nearly 800 gigs in their 11 year history including shows alongside such great as Radio Birdman, The Buzzcocks and You Am I.

A great atmosphere resounded around Jive for the bands final Adelaide performance and indicative of the bands charm they managed to get everyone in the venue, old fans, new fans and even those who had never heard of the group before swinging to their punk sounds. Mach Pelican’s style of punk music is really a through back to a bygone era of rock music – true 1970’s punk. Overtly obsessed with the Ramones, both in sound and dress, the band treated the crowd to one hour of blistering, two and half minute punk songs that were often cleverly meshed together in the form medleys, leaving you feeling like you were watching a performance in fast motion. The band sound incredibly like the Ramones but unlike many bands who tend to – œslit their own throats’ by trying to replicate the sound of their ideals, Mach Pelican seem to be made better for their thievery of their heroes’ formula. Mach Pelican add energy, fun, charisma and greater technical prowess to a sound made famous 30 years ago in 1976 and it makes for the most enjoyable punk show one could imagine.

The bulk of the band’s set came from the group’s latest album, their third, Radio Action and in a set list that consisted of at least 20 tracks it was hard to find more than three or four that weren’t a joy to listen too. Added to the already impressive set list of original compositions were three classic punk covers, the Ray Columbus and the Invaders track – She’s a Mod and two Ramones covers, California Sun and I Wanna be Sedated. At times slightly contrived and predictable but always enjoyable and wonderfully novelty, Mach Pelican played a fantastic final Adelaide show and obviously had a lot of fun throughout their careers paying homage to their idols and breathing new life into the Australian punk scene.