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Way back when – the early naughties to be exact – You Am I took a relatively unknown Australian band on the road. The band in question was The Vines. In 2002 you couldn’t escape the “saviours of rock – œn’ roll” slogan going around then, which included the likes of The Strokes and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. The Vines took on the world and won with their debut album Highly Evolved. Fast Forward to 2009 and we have another contender, The Shiny Brights. Although more on the pop side of rock than say The Vines or The Strokes, the Shiny Brights will be a band to look out for come 2010.
The first band on tonight in Whyalla – why on earth in wasn’t in Adelaide I have no idea – was Sydney’s The Glass Ceiling. Sorry guys, but when you are an unknown band and want the crowd to listen; you have to give it all you got. Yes the crowd was a little thin and un-Jack Danielled early on, but you should take a leaf out of The Shiny Brights book and engage the crowd. They looked uncomfortable and disinterested from the start. No highlights sorry.
The Shiny Brights hail from Adelaide and have only recently returned from a festival slot in the UK. A huge accomplishment for a band with only a handful of songs. I knew little about this band but I am now sold. Lead singer Wolfgang Marwe is the perfect frontman to gee up a crowd and I wouldn’t mind him on my drinking team because I reckon he could knock a few back! He has more energy than a grade 5 class on red cordial; bounding from band member to band member singing his heart out. Watch this space.
The venue was only about half full, which was a shame because You Am I put on a great show. Although they started off a bit slow with two tracks off their poorly received 2006 album Convicts, it took fourth track of the night, Rumble, to get this dusty mining town of Whyalla out of the bar and on to the dance floor… literally. The floor plan was a wooden tile dance floor and an outer carpeted area. There must have been a wedding reception last weekend, evidenced by the lace and ribbons still littered around the venue. Not quite rock – œn’ roll.
It was good to hear the You Am I boys intertwine the set with new and old, not just slabs of new material. Givin’ Up Gettin’ Fat followed by Doug Sam, Moderne followed by crowd favourite Cathy’s Clown and the rarely played Mr. Milk with Friends Like You.
The band was definitely enjoying themselves, Tim especially, as he is (allegedly) off the booze, which is ironic considering the major sponsor for the tour was his staple diet, Jack Daniels. But he charged his water bottle as he announced it was announced it was Davey Lane’s 10th anniversary of joining the band. A no bullshit encore with the band exiting and then re-entering just as quickly and finished off with Get Up and an all balls out version of Berlin Chair.
You Am I were brilliant but look out for The Shiny Brights.
to listen to their music now on 
