Dead Letter Circus @ Capitol,Perth (12/06/10)

Tue 15th Jun, 2010 in Gig Reviews

Stuo’s Gallery

7:30pm rolls around on a chilly Saturday night and the line for Capitol stretches further than the eye can see as eager punters await the opening time for the launch of This is the Warning from Brisbane’s Dead Letter Circus.

Opening for the night is The Siren Tower, a five-piece Perth band with a sound comparable to Paul Dempsey. Grant McCulloch is armed with a plugged in acoustic guitar, and they play us some catchy tunes with an array of sound effects by keyboardist Clay Smith who spends the set switching between his keyboard, tambourine and electric guitar. They begin playing to a small starting crowd of about forty people. Keen to get everyone pumped, McCulloch urges people to come closer; “Let’s get a feel good vibe happening here.” as Letters from the Edge of the Earth begins.

Hidden behind the artificial fog, in a place where the red lighting doesn’t reach, is drummer Brody Simpson. No novice to the wiles of a drum kit, and pumping out the occasional double kick, he may be hidden, but he is heard and his sound gives the band that extra push to go from roots to rock. Unfortunately, due to Capitol’s compulsory finger printing machine, many punters are still in the line and missing the opening act, a fact they would lament for the rest of the evening.

As Capitol begins to fill up, Melbourne’s own Sydonia arrive on stage. The upstairs is opened and the balcony floods with patrons trying to get a good view. The band unleashes harmonious vocals on heavy-metal. The impeccable vocal range of Dana Roskvist becomes evident during No Woman’s Land before the interesting set up of this band is noticed by the crowd. Guitarist, Sam Haycroft and bassist, Adam Murray switch during the second number to their own mini drum kits intensifying the effect of Sean Bailey’s drums.

Judging from the cheers, the crowd appear to be enjoying the show but only the four people in the front row are headbanging; in fact, the crowd is quite lacklustre given the type of music. Then the strobe cranks up and blinds the crowd, and takes them right back to their metal roots with Rubber Bullet as Sydonia reveals its secret weapon for amping up this crowd. The guys from Dead Letter Circus appear on stage and double up on the kits. Suddenly there is an insane amount of drumming and fans are literally screaming in pleasure at the epic and chaotic performance. Every instrument gets a solo as the new, and much heavier, Ocean of Storms ends the set, and the crowd settles in to wait until the main act arrives.

The moment the first riff of The Drum is heard, the crowd dives into a wave of hysteria. In this instant, every member of the crowd knows they are about to witness one incredible show. The music quickens and Kim Benzie arrives, jumping in time with the singing moshpit for EP favourite, The Mile. The crowd spasms as it recognises Big, the first single from This is the Warning, and somewhere between marvelling at Benzie’s vocal range and studying the intense, quick-fingered Rob Maric the crowd decides that this could quite possibly be THE song of the night.

Benzie makes his mark interacting with the crowd as he shines with the sheer pleasure of performing in front of people who love and appreciate Dead Letter Circus’ music. The crowd reacts strangely, at once gratified, and frustratedly eager for the band to get on with it as they takes yet another break between songs interrupting the flow. Oh wait, Stewart Hill is switching bass again and laughing about it.

There is an enigmatic air to the music as they get back to it with Reaction Hill shows off around the stage and the fans clap along. The Design begins. It has a catchy tune and Benzie delivers a truly heartfelt performance of the longest song on the new album. He has a way of making you feel immersed in his voice. A peek at Luke Williams reveals that the drummer is shirtless and playing at lightning speed whilst bright white lights flood the shoulder-to-shoulder crowd who burst into a giant sing-along for obvious favourite, Disconnect and Apply.

Next in Line inspires stage diving and crowd surfing and singing along and the night looks like it might get wilder still as Sydonia and their mini drum kits return to the stage for one last powerful song, This is the Warning. The fans don’t let them leave the stage quietly, but after chanting “D.L.C” over and over again for a few minutes, the realisation sets in; There will be no encore tonight and sweaty and smiling, the crowd shuffles slowly into the night.

Stuo’s Gallery