Children Collide, Red Riders,Young Revelry @ The Metro,Sydney (21/4/11)

Mon 25th Apr, 2011 in Gig Reviews

Perth newcomers Young Revelry opened this Easter Thursday gig. The four piece play a set of post alternate rock songs, with some awesome stoner rock moments and solid guitar riffs. The two guitarist / singers sound great together, feeding off each other and providing great harmonies. They take turns belting out lyrics, often singing, shouting and screaming over one another in an interesting combo. The drummer smashes his kit, his crazy side show bob curls flying everywhere as he pulses solid beats and heaving drum fills. The two singers perform well to the crowd as they play guitars behind their heads, howl into their mics, and provide a mountain of feedback. A good start to the night, from a band showing a great deal of promise.

Local boys Red Riders take to the stage and blast into an excellent hit filled set. Rickenbacker feedback and pounding drums launch into a fantastic rendition of C’mon then A.S.P.R.I.N. totally rocks the roof off the Metro. Polka dot clad singer / guitarist Alexander Griggs awkwardly proclaims “this one is a dance song, so let’s dance!” as they launch into crowd favourite Slide in Next to Me as the audience goes nuts, and dances wildly as instructed. My Love is Stronger than Your Love is preformed perfectly, with thumping drums and mesmerising guitar riffs. Having recently announced their split, tonight was their second last Sydney show ever, and the four piece give it their all as they close with the summery- sounding pop single Ordinary. Red Riders will certainly be missed as great rock / indie / pop song writers, and as favourites in the Aussie live scene. Their last farewell Sydney show should be a cracker – be there if you can.

Children Collide walk on stage into a wall of applause and feedback and smash straight into Chosen Armies . The crowd goes ape shit crazy as singer guitarist Johnny Mackay screams into his fender jaguar pickups, his signature delay soaked guitar resonating through the Metro. They go straight into crowd favourite Across the Earth with Ryan Caesar’s thunderous drums belting into the night, then blaze headlong into “Skeleton Dance” – dominating with an epic three song start to a heaving mosh, wild dancing and rapturous applause. They pause to thank the audience, giving them a brief rest as they throw lolly pops into the crowd, and announce that tonight’s show will be filmed in 3D.

The Melbourne three piece sound super tight tonight, and all three are incredibly talented musicians and great showmen on stage. A blistering Arrows has girls on shoulders, mad crowd surfing and a full on ballistic mosh pit front and centre- great to see the energetic crowd going nuts, feeding off the band’s energy. Then Jellylegs get the same crazed response- totally rocking, complete with manic guitar solos. Johnny thanks Red Riders, and fittingly dedicates Farewell Rocketship to them, demanding applause for “an amazing band breaking up before their time”. Johnny then dons Easter bunny ears as they blast out recent single My Eagle. Heath Crawley’s exalted bass introduction launches into Social Currency and the crowd totally lose their shit again. Johnny claims “we got one more song – we don’t do encores” and dives into the crowd for their final song, crowd surfing and lapping up the monster party vibe the band has created.

The whole set is pure balls out rock and roll, played perfectly from start to finish. An epic performance from a brilliantly talented band, and an awesome start to the Easter holidays.