The Living End, HuntingGrounds, King Cannons @ TheEnmore Theatre, Sydney(02/09/11)

Thu 8th Sep, 2011 in Gig Reviews

King Cannons, a six-piece Kiwi-come-Melbournian act, open the show with an old-school brand of punk rock marked by clanging guitars and keys, but more notably frontman Luke Yeoward’s quintessential punk vocal style. Hints of influences from various genres and eras protrude through the music, yet the band manages to maintain direction and hold course throughout. With an album scheduled for release in the New Year, word among the punk faithful is sure to get around.

Winner of the triple j Unearthed High competition Hunting Grounds (formerly Howl) continue to cash in on their ’09 glory, with their spot on the bill for this tour coming on the back of supports for the likes of Grinspoon and Children Collide. A six-piece also hailing from south of the border, their youth and exuberance translates through the music with a frantic and disjointed vibe at times, though this seems to also feed the same energy with which they steadfastly deliver each discordant blow. While they’ve certainly come a ways from their days at Ballarat High School, they nevertheless seem somewhat out of their depth tonight.

The Living End needs no introduction. Stalwarts of Aussie rock since their anthemic Prisoner of Society took angst ridden teenagers by storm, they have delivered time and again both in the studio and live venues across the country. Opening with new tracks In The Morning and Heatwave, the budding crowd is brought to life as Chris Cheney shows just why he is one of the most highly regarded guitarists in the country.

With songs from the new album scattered throughout, it is the bands long list of crowd pleasers and favourites that dominate and hold the audience. Playing like a greatest hits record, Cheney and his cohorts power through hit after hit, the crowd reveling in every signature upstroke. Scott Owen’s now infamous double-bass balance is a sight to behold, and with only rare moments of calm (such as the up close and personal For Another Day ), it isn’t long before the new album’s title track draws close to the set proper.

Encoring with White Noise and West End Riot, there is little more one could expect from tonight’s performance. Having sold out their opening nights and adding extra dates in both Brisbane and Sydney, and with the tour now moving on to the other major cities, all that remains to be seen is whether The Ending Is Just the Beginning Repeating can follow in its predecessors’ acclaimed footsteps. All signs point to yes.