Gyroscope @ Oktoberfest,Northbridge, Perth (23/10/10)

Tue 26th Oct, 2010 in Gig Reviews

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It was only to be expected that, in true Oktoberfest fashion, everyone in the crowd watching Gyroscope was going to be fairly merry after a day of beer. Not just fairly – more like rather inebriated, but in a fun way.

Since predictions proved true, spirits were high and dancing was a-plenty as local boys Gyroscope ran onto the stage like true rock stars and singer Daniel Sanders, shirtless, told the crowd to “put your hands up if you’ve had a beer today”. There wasn’t a hand left by anyone’s side as they launched into Live Without You.

Guys and girls dressed as beer bottles, hot dogs and everything in between stood to attention and sang along word for word. Sanders’ pitch was impressive, reaching notes that we weren’t quite sure he would reach as he jumped off the drum kit and did the typical front man moves with his guitar – which evidently suited him.

A guy in the crowd was so committed to proving himself as a Gyrofan that, he was lifted, with his crutches, into the air for entire songs, playing his crutches like guitars and waving them about in time with the music.

It was a no-brainer that they were going to play What Do I Know About Pain?, and it was an obvious highlight. What was commendable, in fact, was the Gyro’s set list. Every song they played was well-known (or at least known) and you were reminded of how many songs that they’ve actually released and had played on the radio.

Doctor, Doctor fired up the crowd before drummer Rob Nassif stepped out from behind his drums and announced that his parents had flown in from South Africa to watch him play. 1981 was dedicated to his parents being there, which bought the feel of the gig back home. Keeping the mood cheerful, Some of the Places I Know was a real winner as everyone sung and drunkenly danced to one of their most well-known songs.

Their old songs seemed to be a bigger hit with the audience than new ones. Fast Girl and Safe Forever really stood out as Sanders stood on the barrier and sang to the crowd (and surprisingly kept mostly in pitch).

Ending with Snakeskin, they seemed to just be getting better and better and reluctantly they left the stage to the (fitting) sound of screeching feedback.

Any mistakes throughout their set were completely forgotten and forgiven as their home crowd lapped up everything the Gyros threw at them.

On another note, whoever had to clean up the mountain of empty beer cups would have had a rather large job on their hands.

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