Rook @ Ding Dong, Melbourne(27/12/2008)

Tue 30th Dec, 2008 in Gig Reviews

2008 has been a tremendous year for all, and on the last Saturday of the year, laden with bellies full of festive season food, the Ding Dong Lounge played host to two of Melbourne’s most exciting live acts to prematurely close out the year – Twelve Foot Ninja and Rook – and work off the decadence experienced over the past couple of days.

The Twelve Foot Ninja foursome jumped on stage decked out in ninja gear, with one punter astutely pointing out ‘They’re not fucking ninjas’ – thank you for the reality check, Einstein. To really understand the message and lyrics of Twelve Foot Ninja, it is best to jump on their website and read the scroll that gives you the story behind their work. For those of use who haven’t done their research and have come unprepared, watching the band without paying too much attention to the lyrics also boded for an enjoyable evening as each member of the band vied for the attention of all by jumping around madly on stage.

Twelve Foot Ninja closed the set with their cover of The Presets’ My People, which hit many by surprise, but is in actual fact, quite an enjoyable rendition, as Twelve Foot Ninja don’t stray too far from the original version. The only letdown with the cover is that the band appear stagnant as soon as the first notes blast out – apart from front man Kin, the rest of the crew don’t appear to be feeling it too much.

Rook jumped on stage shortly after, opening with the triple hit of Desley, Fiction and New Guy, the crowd joining in from the word go. Hamming it up centre of stage was larger-than-life front man Forbes McKail, still surprising punters as to how such a diminutive figure can produce such big and powerful vocals.

Dipping into the new release the Add Colour EP, Sonny made an appearance, highlighting the band’s successful foray into a grooves and roots base sound. Animals and Chemicals, also from the new release crept up next, the huge bridge allowing looming guitarist Tyson Fish and bassist Adam May to spend some time in the spotlight, fingers dancing over strings as they shoot cheeky grins to the audience. 27 Seconds, the single they launched here in late August heralded the closing stages of the set, with Forbes donning a guitar for the extended jam intro to the track. Four months later, the resounding chorus from the audience near brings the house down on the first single to drop from Add Colour.

Watching drummer Rod Crowe bouncing around on his seat between songs is contagious, and detracts from the fact that, with only a few choices left regarding what else could possibly make an appearance on the set list, the set is nearing its conclusion. Come followed, a bittersweet plea for a former partner accentuated by Forbes’ voice crackling with emotion during the opening few lines.

Perennial favourite The List had everyone dancing with the chorus, fists raised and shouting out the last line of the chorus with gusto. The List often features as the closer to a Rook set, so imagine the surprise on the faces of punters when Rook launches into the opening riffs of The Jury Decides. Those who were ready to leave the Ding Dong Lounge rapidly made their retreat back onto the floor and gave Rook one last hurrah as they closed their book on 2008.