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Approaching the Adelaide Town Hall, it is evident the Birds Of Tokyo – œBroken Strings’ Acoustic Tour will be vastly different to your average Birds gig. Yet, the proliferation of body art and Australian rock tees (most notably supporting Karnivool and The Butterfly Effect) remains noticeable. Beers are downed exceedingly quickly before punters are quietly ushered into the seated venue. A pamphlet explaining the uniqueness of this Birds concert lies on each chair, awaiting every individual.

Glennwell Piers Richards (frontman for Augie March) begins his solo set. Surrounded by marble pillars and bathed in light provided by large chandeliers, Glenn plays an acoustic guitar. Perched on a chair and clad in a checked shirt, Glenn’s set possesses a somewhat country vibe. He successfully captivates the half of the audience who have arrived early enough to catch his set. Sipping a Coopers Pale Ale, he chats jovially during songs. This Train Will Be Taking No Passengers from the 2002 release Strange Bird is a definite highlight. From Moo, You Bloody Choir (2006), the popular single One Crowded Hour is perfectly executed and resonates with the audience, signaling the end of Glenn’s intimate set.

Before Birds of Tokyo take to the stage, the bar teems with people keen to quench their thirst in the horrific Adelaide heat. People hastily reclaim their seats; dim lighting reveals a stage adorned with a variety of string instruments, a piano, a sparkly red drum kit and a myriad of guitars and basses. The night begins, intensely, with an overture. The band subsequently takes the stage… Ian Kenny amicably proclaims: “Welcome to the show, my friends!”. Precise lighting projects shadows of the band members and their instruments onto the walls. The combination of these dancing shadows and the intricate melodies of the acoustic interpretations of well-known Birds’ tracks makes for a hauntingly beautiful setting.

True to form, Ian Kenny appears unable to control his – œconductor’s hands’ from gracefully fluttering, additionally wriggling his feet, clapping his hands, mouthing lyrics and genuinely losing himself in the music with the passion and innocence of a young child. Vocally, he is breathtaking and hearing his voice live will arguably result in his lyrics lodging themselves deep within the furrows of your mind for days on end. Adam Spark alternates between the guitar and ukulele, a testament to his admirable musical capabilities. Anthonny Jackson on bass and Adam Weston on drums are the band’s solid backbone, exhibiting precision and ingenuity in every track.

Every song has its own special place in the set list; each melody played out with intensity and urgency. Branded one of the first songs the band ever wrote, Russian Roulette is an early highlight. Tonight’s rendition of Wild Eyed Boy, possessing a somewhat country vibe, doesn’t fail to impress. Heard in a different light and encased in a newfound richness and depth, the song is uniquely memorable.

The band covers Marvin Gaye’s Grapevine, after a short intermission, reinventing the song and once again demonstrating the band’s inherent versatility. Touring with the band, Glenn Sarangapany is magical on the piano, injecting sounds which correspond beautifully to the original Birds of Tokyo sound. Throughout, the string section provides an intensity that is difficult to replicate. The orchestral styled rendition of Rest Here My Brother possesses a haunting, unparalleled energy which has become all too reminiscent of this concert. Wayside and Broken Bones are executed with pure precision.

The set terminates, the band thank the crowd and disappear offstage. Adelaide responds with deafening cheers and vigorous floor-stamping, the echos of which bounce off all walls, creating thunderous reverberations in the Town Hall. The band re-emerge, offering the audience remarkable (and quite honestly, spine-chilling) rendition of Medicine. Additionally, to the crowd’s delight, the band launch into the hit Silhouettic. When Kenny sings: “…when the red light’s on, there’s no one at home…”, the stage is bathed in red light (a lovely touch)... And for the first time, the lights turn on the crowd, illuminating hundreds of wholly captivated faces.

One thing is certain… Birds of Tokyo are not “on a highway that leads to the end”… In contrast, they are preparing the Australian music scene for an international noise conspiracy. And the question is… “wild eyed boy… how much can you take?”.

Setlist:
Overture
Armour For Liars
Like Rain
Russian Roulette
Black Sheets
Rose
Wild Eyed Boy
The Bakers Son

INTERMISSION

Grapevine
Head In My Hands
Train Wrecks
Violet
Rest Here My Brother
Off Kilter
Wayside
Broken Bones

Encore:
Medicine

CHECK OUT ALL THE PHOTOS HERE.
Silhouettic