Fears of a leaky roof were overcome following a dash from the dirt car park to the side door entrance. Protected inside the gathering audience left autumn’s torrential three day dumping on the outside for a night of premium Australian rock.

As the second show in under two weeks to cater for an under 18s audience, Challenge Stadium has been actively providing the opportunity for youngsters of Perth and surrounds to be exposed to quality high profile acts, meeting a need so rarely met by the bigger venues in the state.

Local lads Tame Impala had the honor of opening the show. Achieving a growing reputation across the nation they played to a barrier crush not much older than their years. Selected to play in this support slot is not their biggest ask to date but does reinforce their swift ascendance to within the realms of juggernaut status with the backing of the Australian music industry.

The last show of the Raise The Alarm tour brought Gyroscope full circle on a return ticket home.

Having just signed to Island Records the band are in the midst of writing and recording their fourth album and following the widespread success of Breed Obsession a strong contingent on the night were here for the purpose of witnessing their live show.

Entering to applause and foot stamping from the stands a barefooted front man Daniel Sanders, wildly red bandana wearing Zoran Trivic, the epic fro on bassist Brad Campbell and wielder of time sticks Rob Nassif, Gyroscope cut a impressive profile onstage.

Throwing themselves into These Days the build was ample to have the floor dweller’s legs coiling like steel springs to then explode into frenetic moshing upon reaching the chorus.

Beware Wolf began with thumping drums that were expertly drilled throughout by Nassif with such vigor and precision to make him the envy of any rhythm hungry band.

Save Forever off their debut Sound Shattering Sound completed the trifecta of album play and the even selection of tracks continued throughout the set. All In One and _1981_were a continuation of the superb showmanship and rock star poses with the band using every square meter of stage frontage.

Leaping from the stage mid song Campbell got up in the faces of the front row leaning into the pit all the while playing and getting assistance from bouncers prop up his mic stand.

At this point all in the stands were ruing being contained by a chair and numbered ticket. The tracks continued with Doctor Doctor, Dream vs Scream, Australia and firmly punk rooted Don’t Look Now But I Think I’m Sweating Blood from 2005’s from Are You Involved?

Fast Girl got a touch of the Oil’s when part way through it cut into Beds Are Burning, a timely cover for indigenous week.

Snakeskin finished of the intense set that if anything could have warranted a little more volume from the sound engineers. Possible though that they wanted to avoid a riot considering we hadn’t even made it to the main act.

A full stage overhaul had one monogrammed drum kit replaced for another and three mics cut down to two.

Spinning police lights, a warm-up track and a backdrop slowly hoisted ushered The Living End onto the stage. With instruments in hand there was no break in proceedings as Roll On got the crowd off.

Hey Hey Disbeliever got a splicing treatment with Billy Thorpe and The Aztecs’ Most People I Know Think That I’m Crazy revving up the older members of the audience and showing what a great influence Australian artists are on one another.

The great production efforts heightened the experience from the thousands of dollars worth of lighting rig to the backdrop and even a skirt for the drum riser made out of a similar print.

Pumping out Whose Gonna Save Us, Second Solution and Loaded Gun in quick succession The Living End are a band that stimulates an overwhelming desire to rush at the stage or dive out of the seating area and crowd surf all the way to the front. Constructive to the cause Challenge had a crowd surfing friendly approach, where most venues would turf you out, the bouncers handled the situation in such a way that benefited all.

Playing solo in the intersect of two angled spots Chris Cheney displayed his impeccable skill and ability on guitar leading into All Torn Down. The reflective tracks Moment In The Sun and Waiting For The Silence seemed at odds with the satisfaction of both band and audience but the show took off again for What’s On Your Radio.

Cheney had more fun on the guitar improvising, truly a modern virtuoso on his instrument. Not to be out done Scott Owen feverishly plucked at his double bass proving that as far as contenders go, Australia is light on the ground for anyone who can do this better. Drummer Andy Strachan also got opportunities to demonstrate his skill even pounding out the monstrous drums in Phil Collins’ In The Air Tonight. The stage antics reached a height when Cheney began playing his guitar with a beer letting it bubble and spray all over security before chugging down the remainder.

How Do We Know the opening track on White Noise with the sweetest intro of any Living End track was followed by Wake Up, the immortal Prisoner Of Society and White Noise to finish off the set list.

Both Gyroscope and The Living End expressed their appreciation of the attendees at the show in choosing Australian music, but when we have it this good who would go elsewhere? The gig showed why these bands are an exceptional part of the reason Australian rock music is fucking awesome!