Brand New, Kevine Devine @ ThePalace Theatre, Melbourne(28/03/2010)

Mon 29th Mar, 2010 in Gig Reviews

Check out photos from The Palace here

With the release of their fourth album last year, New York’s Brand New returned to Australia and were met with a sold out crowd in Melbourne – a fact they happily rewarded.

Given that Brand New practically treat Kevin Devine as a member of their band, it was little surprise to see a hefty show of early comers for the night’s support slot. Vying for a viewing spot before the support isn’t the most common thing, but any anticipation for Devine was soon proven worthwhile.

Bringing with him three band mates meant he could cover more territory in his set than his otherwise acoustically self would allow. What ensued was a serious rock set that easily rivalled the headliners, complete with some heavy instrumentals and very clever lyricism. In guitar breaks, Devine ventured over the entire stage, bounding in every direction like a man crazed.

2005’s Cotton Crush provided an early highlight, with Devine projecting his voice into a distant microphone, as did I Could Be With Anyone and an appearance from Jesse Lacey to scream his way through the end of a track. All the while between numbers, Devine won himself plenty of new fans with his easygoing stage presence and banter. The dark and longing Brother’s Blood notably finished things off under appropriately red lighting, and ensured a few more bodies would be attending his headline show the following night.

Brand New seemed to have every intention of making the sold out Palace wait, and played the old “let’s turn the lights out way before we come on” card. However, this stunt worked on two levels. First, the anticipation for the band grew hugely; and second, when the sounds of Sink did eventually hit the ears of the crowd, the floods of light that came with it could not have been more of an assault on the eyes. It was seriously loud, it was seriously bright and, judging by the heave of the crowd toward the stage, it was seriously welcome.

With new album Daisy confidently tucked into their belts, Brand New set to work on the new songs, with Sink, Vices, Gasoline and In A Jar all appearing back to back to open the set. It could not have been clearer how certain the band was about these songs, with Lacey’s vocals exerting severe power, and guitarists Bincent Accardi and Derrick Sherman and bassist Garrett Teirney putting in a marathon effort, thrashing about on their sides of stage.

If there was anything more evident than the confidence of the band, it was the devotion of the crowd. At every heavy opportunity, the floor moved in a united bound, fists firmly in the air, and in the quieter moments a collective voice joined Lacey’s, not missing a word. This was especially prevalent half way through the set when the band played a series of tracks from their debut effort; Mix Tape, The Shower Scene, _ Jude Law and a Semester Abroad_ and Seventy Times 7 making up the debut’s contributions. Then there were the tracks the crowd reacted to before you’d think even possible; a massive roar of approval going up for Jesus before it even seemed recognisable.

Toward the end of the set the more progressive tracks began to creep out – Degausser and the sinister You Stole providing real standouts on the setlist. The tracks built with power and kept the crowd sweating, resulting in the set’s end seeming as strange as it was impressive.

The end in question consisted of nothing but Lacey, performing a reworked Limousine on guitar and then Play Crack the Sky – a finale that had everyone completely drawn in before a nonchalant Kevin Devine strolled across the stage to a greeting of laughter. Distraction aside, Devine and Lacey then finished the song (and the night) together in a finer fashion to the set’s majority – a sure way people would remember its end.