It’s not easy to predict how a Frenzal Rhomb show will turn out. Mohawked punters mixed with disco balls, beer and a strange array of support acts is always going to provide an interesting night. Regardless, The Corner Hotel was filled to capacity with all fans, both young and old there to see a fantastic night of music.

Ire kicked off the proceedings for the night, displaying a hardcore/scream act that seemed out of place. This did not seem to be a problem with the crowd, who danced along to their delayed and short set. Noticeable events were the punters who still think it’s cool to pretend to be Chuck Norris in a moshpit, and two males who decided to slow dance. Ah, the polarity is great.

Nancy Vandal seemed to play a more appropriate style of music, complete with saxophone and trombone. Surprisingly, the audience seemed to find them juvenile, with many calling for them to get off the stage, and some throwing glasses. Perhaps Squeeze My Nose, Sounds Like Axel Rose was too immature for the crowd.

After the introduction of the Wheel Of Rock, the ‘7th member of the band’, which determined how many power chords were played at the end of the song, the audience seemed to loosen up and respect the band, singing along to We’re Not Getting Any Nuder. Glasses were now directed to – œthe 8th member of the band’, who turned out to be the former bassist, who was dressed in a full suit.

The band continued to play a lengthy set, spitting out fun sing-a-longs such as There’s No I In Rock and 1,2,3, Baby Yeah, which were completed, once again, with the Wheel of Rock (which now seemed to have a cult following). Move Over Satan and Frenzal was better when Ben was in the band ended their set, leaving the audience satisfied, yet eager for Frenzal to hit the stage.

The Frenzal fans were incredibly rowdy waiting for the band to hit the stage. Finally, the band made an appearance a little earlier than expected, with Jay declaring that he had ‘been to 36 countries in the last 5 months. It’s good to be home. Actually. It’s shit’. This was quickly followed with the band opening with Genius which had every punter releasing all energy that had obviously been stored during the opening acts. Russell Crowe’s Band received a great reception from all, however it wasn’t until Jay decided to talk about the recent stimulus package that the audience showed how vocal they could be. ‘So…is everyone spending the 900 bucks sticking drugs up their butt?’

60, Beautiful and Mine was next on the list with the band giving the audience the chance to sing along with no vocals from Jay. The crowd kept this attitude going with every punter singing along to All Your Friends… and Ball Chef.

By this stage, the band had displayed complete confidence in what they were doing; chatting idly among one another about alcohol, gigs, and fans who – œlive at the end of the train line’ (seems to be a reoccurring joke of Jay’s). These slow down periods were not enough to stop the crowd, who by this stage proceeded to rip two disco balls off the ceiling, and then continued to use the disco balls as a makeshift beach ball. Whilst the band did not advocate, nor encourage this, the grins on Tom and Gordy’s faces as this took place spoke a million words.

It didn’t seem to matter whether one was crowd surfing (cautiously avoiding the poles that stand in the middle of the Corner Hotel), playing with disco balls or standing idly by the bar, the input that the crowd displayed was phenomenal, with Bucket Bong and Never Had So Much Fun easily being the most energetic, enjoyable and memorable tracks of the night. The band shortly followed with a cover of the Home and Away theme song which showed that a few hundred people can simultaneously dance, sing and laugh all at once. Fantastic.

Jay announced that the band ‘was going to go backstage, where you will cheer for a bit, we’ll come out, play a few more, then leave’. Punch In The Face quickly followed this announcement, the band left the stage, the room began to smell of university again, and the chants began.

Unfortunately, the band only returned for a short encore, however this was no issue for the crowd who ate up everything that the band provided. Closer of the night, Some of My Best Friends Are Racist, was a superb finisher, displaying what a Frenzal gig should be like: Sweaty fans, spilt beer, smokey ceilings, destroyed property and a room full of people, well aware that they had just witnessed one of Australia’s greatest live bands.

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