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Australia’s favourite punk-rockers, Gyroscope, wrapped up their Cohesion tour in Canberra on Saturday night. The tour was in celebration of the young guns’ fourth studio album of the same name and had sold out in more than five other locations in the last month. Waning emo stars, After the Fall kicked off the night, being hardly more memorable than a bar of soap but it was the second act, The Vasco Era that stole the show from all, with their intensely energetic stage presence and gutsy blend of folk rock. As the night drew to an end and Gyroscope sidled into eyesight, charismatic and decidedly bare, the four-piece Perth rock outfit showed Canberra, just exactly why this show was sold out.

Central Coast band, After the Fall was the first to rock the stage, bearing all the enthusiasm of an over-excited teenage boy in the erotica section of a movie store. Sadly, the crowd weren’t there with them. Walking in on one of their few commercial hits, Mirror Mirror, was a disappointing affair with only a handful of barrier punters standing around and a pinch of devoted fans mumbling along to the lyrics. It didn’t get much better with the band playing mainly their recently released tracks, closing with their anthem Concrete Boots in what seemed like no time at all.

The Vasco Era. What can one say? The most exciting live band of the year? Flawlessly talented performers? Musical gods playing what must be the soundtrack to rock heaven? Lead singer, Sid O’Neil, might pull some of the strangest faces ever seen on a musician but oh my, the husky blues voice escaping from his mouth to offset the unique rock and roll music, is nothing short of genius. All eccentricities put forth, the band delighted the crowd with some well assembled covers, including the Beatles classic; Why Don’t We Do it in the Road which had fans and unfamiliars alike belting out the chorus line. By this point, Sid was more yelling than singing and with a few Nirvana tracks thrown into the mix, the band closed with an extended rendition of Honey Bee.

Never before has such intense energy been unleashed on the ANU Bar stage and one must wonder how it is still standing after The Vasco Era’s second visit in six months. Disappointingly, it’s become a well known fact that no matter how much fans might scream and yell for The Vasco Era’s pinnacle hit Kingswood, it just ain’t comin’.

After much anticipation, Gyroscope, barechested and armed with their weapons of rock, graced the stage to end their tour on a sold out note. Following The Vasco Era was going to be a tough feat, even for the headlining act. Dishing out what would prove to be an even mix of old and new, despite being on an album tour, Gyroscope had fans clambering the barriers, wanting more. Frontman, Daniel Sanders tasted Canberra’s fierce fanaticism when he braved the thick of the mosh pit to get up close and personal. After a good harassing by the girls in the front row, the band reunited on stage for some oldies including Fast Girl and the intense Doctor Doctor. Keen disciples of Are You Involved? would be disappointed as arguably, the band’s breakthrough hit, Beware Wolf, was nowhere to be heard. The best songs from all four of Gyroscope’s albums were showcased, with the raucous What Do I Know About Pain? off Cohesion embedding itself in brains as the song you won’t forget anytime soon.

Ending on a high note with Some Of The Places I Know the band left the stage and the crowd feeling considerably confused and disappointed. Where’s Australia? Snakeskin? ANYTHING? Alas, the oldest trick in the book was performed and the band rendezvoused to play their stadium hits in the making; Australia and Snakeskin.

Despite the overbearingly excited, rough crowd and the overheated venue, Gyroscope ended their sold out tour on a high note, leaving Canberra’s gig punters wondering when they’ll be back.

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