Pendulum, Shock One @ TheTivoli, Brisbane (03/11/2010)

Mon 15th Nov, 2010 in Gig Reviews

Drum and bass exports Pendulum blew the roof off a packed Tivoli, showcasing new hits, old favourites and a couple of well received remixes.

Supporting any act on tour can be a tough ask, especially one with a reputation for sweaty, non-stop live shows such as the evening’s headliner. As a friend of a couple of Pendulum members, Perth DJ Shock One was asked to kick things off on their first Australian tour in almost two years.

His set was well structured, appealing to drum and bass fans throughout but not neglecting those in attendance due to Pendulum’s crossover appeal by dropping in hints of Deadmau5, The Bloody Beetroots and a remix of the current female Midas, Florence And The Machine. Shock One was a great way to start the night and warm up the crowd, but as soon as he walked off stage The Tivoli filled with fans wanting to get the best vantage point.

Walking on stage dressed almost entirely in black, Pendulum made their presence felt from the first beat. Instrumental track Genesis, off latest album Immersions opened the set followed by Salt In The Wounds and Granite, featuring MC Verse at his frenetic, crowd-controlling best.

They went from strength to strength, calling on tracks from all three albums but it was a remix of Prodigy classic Voodoo People that provided an early highlight. The merchandise stand would have neared records for a Tivoli show as a sea of Pendulum shirts engulfed the venue, getting progressively darker as the crowd moved collectively with every beat with a layer of sweat soon covering the floor. The backing screen showed a synced animation throughout the entire show that was unnecessary. With an action packed show taking place on stage very little decoration is required, and that’s without questioning the relevance of a gigantic animated robotic spider.

Lead vocalist Rob Swire showed his true talents, swapping between keyboards, vocals and his now signature guitar-like MIDI controller. Reggae influenced Tarantula produced a mass sing-a-long and was followed by another crowd favourite Propane Nightmares. Fists were pumping, heads rocking, feet moving in a blur and a questionable amount of water was being consumed as the band finished their set, walking off with no adjustment in the house lighting or music, leaving the crowd to cheer for the inevitable encore.

Their remix of the ABC theme is fast becoming somewhat of a classic and translated to the live arena exceptionally, receiving a loud response from the punters who maintained their energy despite the rising room temperature. Recent hit single Watercolour was the perfect way to end the night as the crowd sung along with every word and collectively erupted as the tempo lifted.

Although Pendulum might not be everybody’s thing, there is no doubt that they put on a killer live show and have found their niche in the dance music market that has seen their profile rise dramatically with promise to keep striving to be held in the same regard as some of the big names in the not too distant future.