Dead Letter Circus @ TheCorner Hotel, Melbourne(02/04/2011)

Thu 14th Apr, 2011 in Gig Reviews

Arriving twenty minutes after the doors were set to open, I’m greeted by a line that well and truly snakes around the corner. With a sold-out show also at the Corner Hotel the next evening; it’s clear for all to see; Melbourne loves Dead Letter Circus.
Local lads [ME] had the difficult task of warming up the crowd, but take to the task with aplomb. Described as a theatrical rock band, [ME] at times were caught in the trap of sounding like a mix of Queen and Muse. Powerful vocals, three part melodies and some fantastic guitar interplay was enough to keep the front few rows interested, but the rest looked underwhelmed, save for during EP title track Naked. The bald punter in front of me summed it up best: “all the talent in the world isn’t enough without originality.”

Floating Me’s name might not differ markedly from the initial act, but almost triple the crowd flocked to the front as their grand, atmospheric rock consumed the Corner. Vocalist Andrew Gillespie has a booming, almost gritty voice that belies his minimal stage presence. The rest of the band, best known for other projects, hammed up the performance, playing with considerable gusto. Drummer Lucius Burich absolutely pounded the drums, treating the crowd to a killer drum solo. Cog’s Borich looked almost manic as his bombastic solo blasted around the Corner. With incredible instrumentalists, a distinct sound, and an ability to switch tempo almost at will, Floating Me kept the crowd transfixed for the entirety of their set.

The huge crowd gathered at the foot of stage took a simultaneous sigh of anticipation and relief when the red velvet curtain finally parted and Dead Letter Circus took the stage. The band has one of the more fanatical fan bases, and front man Kim Benzie instantly transforms the relaxed punters into a mob of frenzied worshippers. An overwhelming wall of noise hits the crowd as the band launches into The Mile. A deafening roar greets Reaction, as the crowd thumps back and forth as one. Hundreds of fans belted out every word, relishing the light show as Dead Letter Circus worked their magic.

The set consisted mainly of songs from debut album This is the Warning, but with a few songs from their self-titled EP thrown in. Cage, Disconnect and Apply, and Next in Line generated the biggest receptions from the crowd, but the roars for Big and One Step sent shivers up your spine. The band is accustomed to madly devoted fans, but even they seemed taken aback as the fans thrashed about so uncontrollably that the floor shook.

Dead Letter Circus returned for a two-song encore, with Here we Divide and This is The Warning capping off a brilliant set that still has my ears ringing. It’s certainly one way to combat reports they haven’t been loud enough throughout earlier shows on the tour.

The band invited the support acts’ drummers to the stage for This is The Warning, and I wouldn’t have been surprised if they heard the thumping over the road at the MCG.

Melbourne loves Dead Letter Circus. Two sold out shows are testament to that. And the band in turn, loves its fans. Dead Letter Circus rocks out for its fans with seemingly boundless energy and passion, show after show.