Something With Numbers @ TheHi-Fi, Melbourne (10/07/09)

Wed 15th Jul, 2009 in Gig Reviews

Central coast melodic punk rockers Something With Numbers have hit the road again to promote the release of 89 Freedom Street, the 3rd single from latest offering Engineering The Soul. Tonight, The Hi-Fi dance floor is pulsing with the feverish squeals of filly fans and the expectation of a bloody good rock show after a top 20 album chart debut and some high radio rotation has finally landed them the recognition they’ve worked so hard for. They do not fail to deliver. They serve up a solid spread of high-energy pop punk blinders and stripped back acoustic ballads.

Their dynamic combo of power-pop melody, raging guitars and punk tempo tells us they’re not afraid to make music the kids can belt out. They kick the set off with Pants On Fire and get the – œwhoah oh oh oh’s’ flowing early in the game. What Is This? and It’s All Going To Happen Again follow and the immediate crowd-band alliance continues highlighting the appeal of SWN. They create catchy as hell choruses, they don’t turn their noses up at sing-a-longs and hand clapping and the hooks just keep rolling in! Yet their lyrics have a depth and their songs a diversity that keeps them just free from the bubblegum brandings of Victorian counterparts Kisschassy.

Their on-stage enthusiasm is infectious. Jake Griggs may very well be the perfect front man. He has all of the swagger but none of the arrogance. Whilst he bandies about enough cheeky banter between songs to keep it amusing he’s also gracious; a quality we prize in our aussie rockers. Artfully coiffed and flamboyantly shimmying and shaking, he captivates us with his trademark moves, throwing his bulk around the stage in pure entertainment.

Mid-set sees Jake take up a guitar and the band charge full throttle into the guitar driven anthem We’ll Fight. Songs like this display the range and raw power of Griggs’ vocals. The stoked crowd are sold now and churning through the lyrics with as much fervour as Griggs. Zombie brings more of the same from both punters and players.

While Griggs’ charisma elevates the performance, SWN are far from a one-man show. The pulsating drums and rollicking riffs that barrel each song through every crescendo come from the instrumental powerhouse behind him. Although fill-in Trent Crawford (One Dollar Short) is hard to fault, after seven years with the same line-up there’s a visible loss on stage without the presence of original lead guitarist Lachlan Scott.

To the delight of the punters, Griggs announces they’ll be performing the mash-up of Kings Of Leon’s Sex On Fire and Cypress Hill’s Hits from The Bong they did for Triple J’s Like A Version. It could be a car wreck but instead it works brilliantly. Whistles of encouragement and hollers of approval are hurtled at the stage while Griggs spits speedily through the Cypress Hill rap. A risk well worth taking!

The fervour is at fever pitch now and the room explodes when the band launch into Apple Of The Eye. Next, Goodbye Mickey Finn proves a passionate sing-a-long from the punters and is a little reminiscent of the Dashboard Confessional MTV sessions. Even the staunchest of anti-emo elitists have to give kudos to any band that can make this kind of connection with their audience.

The hook-laden reminiscing on days of old, 89 Freedom Street creates more of the same magic. Double Dyed has an almost folk inspired intro before a wall of guitars drives it full throttle into a thumping climax. They round the set out with Stay With Me Bright Eyes. The pounding drums command the crowd to move and the contagious chorus is impossible to resist.

After boisterous pleas for an encore, Jake returns to the stage armed with an acoustic and dedicates I’ll Be There to a couple of newly engaged mates. There is a real beauty in this ballad and thankfully, it lacks the cheesiness often peppering pop punkers dabblings in love songs. The vulnerability in Griggs’ vocals gives the tune a real sincerity and spotlights the groups growing lyrical maturity.

Something With Numbers continue their assault on the airwaves and if they keep up this high calibre of live performance they’ll be dominating their genre for at least as many years as it took them to get here.

CHECK OUT THE PHOTOS FROM THE GIG HERE