CHECK OUT ALL THE PHOTOS FROM THE SHOW HERE.
After attending an intimate Children Collide gig at Oxford Art Factory recently, I wasn’t too fussed on seeing them pre Living End. Having zero self control when it comes to live music in any form, I gave in. It was a very good decision. Their signature pop-rock sound ripped through the Enmore Theatre, satisfying all present. The audience’s eyes were torn between frontman Jonny’s erratic on stage behaviour and bassist Heath’s power stances and hair flicks. Children Collide ticked every box and undoubtedly increased their fan-base.
As good as the supports were, it was clear who the crowd (made up of all ages) had turned up for. The Living End strutted on stage looking very dapper in their familiar rock ‘n’ roll attire. Not wasting anytime, they launched into Raise the Alarm. Chris Cheney and fans together were already sporting a healthy sweat. Reworked riffs and licks that surrounded old time favourites All Torn Down, West End Riot and I Can’t Give You What I Haven’t Got kept the smiles on all Living End devotees’ faces.
New additions to the set from their fifth studio album White Noise did not go unnoticed. Mid-set highlights included album opener How Do We Know? and their new single Moment in the Sun. The Living End’s breakthrough single from over ten years ago, Prisoner of Society, still showed it has just as much merit in their live show now as it did back then. In unison, all punters regurgitated every word back. It was something special.
A highlight of the evening was when Chris Cheney started strumming his Grestch and the Roll On chant was started by a cocky audience. Much to everyone’s surprise, they unleashed a cover of rock classic Run to Paradise. After the first verse, they did actually play Roll On. All punters, although slightly confused/amused, gave themselves a pat on the back, feeling confident that they were right in the first place.
After a jam-packed set of all the trials, tricks and tribulations that Living End enthusiasts paid to see, they climaxed with their most recent smash White Noise. With unnecessary encouragement from Cheney, the crowd erupted.
Returning to the stage for their encore after what seemed like forever they surprised us all by playing Kid. If I had to say something negative, it would be that this was an odd choice of song and didn’t give the punch that fans were eager for. Although, this was instantly overlooked when the punch came ten-fold in the finishing number Second Solution.
We were left with the vision of Andy Strachan pounding his drums from a standing position, Scott Owen swinging his double bass above his head and Chris Cheney doing a split jump off the drum platform. Drenched in sweat, they exited the stage. It doesn’t get much more rock ‘n’ roll than that, baby.
