Ok – from the outset I have to put it simply: this was a very cool gig. The three bands that played were all matched perfectly. They fed into each other amazingly well, the two supports building up the pumping electro-indie-rock atmosphere very nicely before the eventual absolute rock out of the Midnight juggernauts.
The show started with Canberra’s own The Magic Hands who are the newest addition to the ever popular indie electro rock scene in Australia. The band comprises of five young lads from Canberra, Tim Dyer (Vocals), Matt Keeley (Lead), Andrew Long (Keys and Vocal), Tom Smith (Bass) and Frank Aloe (Drums), who are clearly influenced by London based ‘nu-rave’ sensations the Klaxons. This was the perfect forum for the guys to show off their unique fusion of melodic pop harmonies, enveloping synth and funky drum and bass combos. They are definitely a band to watch out for over the coming year.
Up next was Grafton Primary. If I got to give out cool awards then these guys would just get them all. The sheer presence of a fully functioning keytar on stage was enough. Grafton Primary didn’t waste anytime getting into it. They have mastered the art of fusion, each of their tracks clearly shaped by a range of influences, none too prominent. It won’t be too long before these guys have supports of their own, they were the perfect warm up for what was about to come.
The utter amount of touring that the Midnight Juggernauts have done over the last year or so has instilled absolute professionalism in this indie-electro-synth trio. Their stage presence was immediately captivating – the crowd was jumping from the get-go and they didn’t stop until after the encore. For a band that in the last year has played along side the likes of superstars such as Kings of Leon, Bloc Party and so many more, this gig would have definitely been seen as somewhat intimate. Yet, for this writer anyway, it was here that they seemed at their best. When there have already been ample opportunities to see a band such as the Juggernauts, you know that the crowd at gigs like this are the true followers. Reeling out the classics from their debut album Dystopia and also from the EP – the Juggers as usual did not disappoint.
With three more shows before the commencement of their world tour in London this writer is very excited to see what happens when the world also discovers this Melbourne band. All that I know is that the Midnight Juggernauts are ready to take on the world – Good Luck!
