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If I could choose any song to describe The Vines at the moment. I’d choose one from their album Melodia, titled He’s A Rocker. Even with a pot-free frontman the band seem to be more creative and energetic than ever. ANU BAR punters were reminded that these guys are just as cool even without their ex-partner in lyrical crime, ‘Mary-Jane’. Supporting that night was the lovely Wolf & Cub as well as Sydney band, Cabins.

Prior to the show, it wasn’t at all surprising to spy on some kids outside hitting up the ol’ ‘M-J’ before the show. Inside, the venue was a mixture of pubescent to middle-aged rock music lovers. A night envisioned with riot punters and broken toes, it was strange to find a well behaved mosh pit.

This was perhaps due to how their setlist was set out. It was heavy songs like Get Free, which were broken up by slower songs like Home Sick. It could also be that songs were longer than two minutes at at a time, so punters had time to cool down before going crazy again.

Just to name a few tracks featured within the set was their new single Get Out, Highly Evolved, Outtathaway as well as many from their four albums. The Vines seem to be notoriously good at covering others. Many may have heard their cover of The Veronica’s song titled 4eva on the No Mans Woman soundtrack. That night they covered Ms Jackson by Outkast which rips the original.

A highlight of the show was when the band came back for an encore. The show was not complete until frontman Craig Nicholls got out his relaxant, the cigarette and took a puff on stage. The night came to an excellent end when the singer got his wild side out, by throwing his guitar on to the stage.

The band have no doubt matured as musicians. Even drug-free, The Vines are still ‘highly-evolved’ when it comes to entertainment. The craziness is still there, just in a mature form. They are doing it right and are making sense as artists. Rock and roll guys.

Read about The Vines guest star DJ at REV @ BAR 32 by clicking HEREl