Children Collide, Glass Towers@ Birdee Num Num, Brisbane(12/09/11)

Thu 15th Sep, 2011 in Gig Reviews

Monday nights have never been sweeter thanks to Carlton Dry, and the free shenanigans at Birdee Num Nums were no exception. Resident spinner DJ Charlie Hustle was in fine form, mixing past and present favourites and providing the ultimate atmosphere for what was to be a non-stop show.

Sydneysiders Glass Towers were first on the bill and certainly made their mark from the start. It didn’t take long for the crowds to get moving, as the youthful indie rockers showed impressive command of their audience. Their reputation preceded them, it seemed, as the introduction of their better known track Castles demanded massive cheers and even bigger dancing from attendees. The only thing that would’ve added to their stellar performance is if the band members showed as much enjoyment for their performance as their audience did. That said, their catchy tunes were undeniably infectious and left audiences reeling long after the set.

As soon as the eagerly-awaited Children Collide stepped onto the stage, the volume and the action skyrocketed. It didn’t take long for Johnny Mackay to become well acquainted with the unspeakably enthusiastic crowd, as the opening track We Live In Fear saw him soaring above the audience and performing many a guitar solo simultaneously. The show soon hiccupped, however: a thrifty punter seized an opportunity to claim bassist Heath Crawley’s hat, which became a sore point for the band members when it wasn’t returned. This was followed by several brawls, many security-escorted walks of shame and countless spillages of Carlton Dry. There were many outstanding tracks, as expected, and included the older favourites Jelly Legs, Arrow and the newer track Loveless, which was performed with an intensity that paralleled the now infamous accompanying filmclip. The tight 50 minute set left punters begging for more, and a mess of a crowd at the mercy of security guards.

A suspected hat-thief was seen sprinting down the street shortly after the crowds had dispersed. And so ended another priceless night, thanks to Carlton Dry.