Calling All Cars, NumbersRadio, Young Revelry @ X&YBar, Brisbane (25/09/2010)

Mon 27th Sep, 2010 in Gig Reviews

Young Revelry have been given the cold shoulder again by Brisbane’s inhabitants. With only around ten people in the room, they look like the Tuesday night regulars, which is far from what they deserve. Only about two people clap, and one of them is me, but as the set progresses more people arrive and show appreciation. The quartet cleaves their set in two, ramming home coarse slabs of Sugar Army riffage infused with Tame Impala style psychedelica. There’s little room to move on such a small stage, especially with the backline, but the band’s lead guitarist still manages to slink and warp his body like an Arabian dancer. The band appears to be moving towards a concrete identity, so it’ll only be a matter of time before they develop a solid following.

Despite some minor issues with guitar leads, Numbers Radio quickly distance themselves from their shaky start. Dave Orr wails into the microphone, occasionally venturing to the centre of the stage as he mashes his strings with urgency. The band appears to be severing ties with their alt-rock roots for a punk-driven sound. Although new single Final Day sounds like a Sum 41 outtake, the other tracks from the upcoming EP Josephine are punishing. The older tracks from Acquiring Satellites including Come On and Automatic also have received makeovers, now laden with three-part harmonies, blistering drum solos and extended jams. Often the trio would abruptly stop to create tension before punching through with a barrage of power-chords and sing along choruses. The set’s closer, Fire, is an absolute face-melter. This trio’s drive and eclectic show will arguably see them stand out from their fellow peers in the genre within the foreseeable future.

After shuffling themselves through the punters at the front of the stage, Calling All Cars waste no time launching into one of their new tracks entitled Nothing, before heading back into familiar territory with Runaway. Their usual high-energy live show is a bit stumped tonight, but it’s hardly their fault. X&Y isn’t really designed for such raucous and energy driven hard-rock. The in house mix is deafeningly loud and singer Haydyn Ing really doesn’t have any objects to climb or leap off. He ventures onto the barricade front of stage, but is unable to gain a solid foothold. Nevertheless the trio make the best of the situation and tracks like Hold, Hold, Fire, Soldier On and Little Red Hands shoot past without a hitch.

Ing executes his role as frontman perfectly, working up the crowd and constantly alternating between his collection of black Telecasters. It would be folly to interpret his performance as arrogance. He’s trying to whip the audience into a frenzy. Tonight, they are reasonably passive but still willing to partake in hand-claps and sing-alongs during the radio friendly Not Like Anybody and the blistering high-tempo pace of Animal. Adam Montgomery grabs his bass and rubs the neck against the pipes on the roof whilst James Ing powers away behind his drum kit. The trio throw in a cover of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s Whatever Happened to my Rock n’ Roll. Whilst devoted fans of the original might not be impressed, the lads still manage to pull it off. The furious pummel of Disconnect wraps up the proceedings and the dregs from Parklife wander in for the Dandy Warhols DJ set.

Innovation is hardly the selling point of Calling All Cars, with their strengths lie in their live shows, and their ability to control audiences and keep them engaged. Their tour ultimately proves that they can stand on their own feet as headliners and they will surely become a driving force in Australian rock.