The Living End have travelled across more of Australia than the Leyland Brothers since the start of their All States of Emergency tour. So for nearly a decade, The Living End have captured their amazing ability to perform every song with boisterous intensity and contagious enthusiasm. Whether it’s Scott Owen climbing his double bass or Chris Cheney surfing the fold-backs, there’s no let up to the energy from this stalwart Aussie three-piece.

As a piece of architecture, there’s nothing pretty about The Palace in St Kilda. From the outside it’s not much more than a big brick box in a car park yet inside it’s a no-nonsense music venue. Neon lights exclaim “Bar Open” and you expect to see a body flying from the balcony, just like a comedy-flick style bar room fight. It’s the prefect venue for a band like The Living End who are straight up, unpretentious, punk flavoured rockabilly ‘n roll.

With most of the punters watching the AFL preliminary final in the front bar, the Red Riders played a short but solid set while End of Fashion, slowly but surely, drew the crowd in. End of Fashion fired up their set with Lock Up Your Daughters, followed by She’s Love before kicking into a few newbies. It wasn’t until the single O Yeh that a noticeable energy lift was sensed from the crowd. The boys were having a bit of fun with their song arrangements too, straying from the album versions as guitarist Rodney Aravena ripped into a few extended Hendrix-inspired licks with the aid of his effects processor.

The crowd had no doubt been saving their energy for the main act. As The Living End took the stage they were greeted with an appreciation only reserved for rock-royalty. Friends were being lifted onto each others shoulders, groups of mates began locking arms around each others’ necks in giant group hugs while others took to pogo dancing. Everyone began sing-yelling along as the band broke into the set opener Til’ the End.

Each song is an anthem in its own right – Roll on, Who’s Gonna Save Us, What’s on your Radio, All Torn Down, Second Solution. Just the mention of a track title is enough to replay the infectious anti-establishment chorus in your mind. These songs belonged to the punters. They’ve listened to them enough times to make them rightfully theirs and judging by the elated high-fives and arm-punches this was exactly the case. The frenzied audience was loving it!

New single Nothing Lasts For Ever blended straight into The Living End back catalogue and the crowd’s reaction was unwavering. Crowd surfers were unbeknown to the fact that this song was probably one of the slower songs on the set list.

Saving the favourite for last, Prisoner of Society closed the set to a thunderous applause as the momentum carried through to foot-stomping demands for an encore. The band returned just at the point of fever pitch as Cheney confessed
“we love you from the bottom of our hearts – thank you so much. Thank you.”
The emotion in his voice and the smile on his face conveyed his sincerity.

Suicidal Education channelled into a cover of Tainted Love with a bit of Smoke on the Water for good measure. While last song West End Riot etched into Led Zeppelin’s Whole Lotta Love and a couple of bars of Foxy Lady, the boys had fun cramming some nostalgic rock into their final minutes on stage.

Finally, Cheney threw his guitar in the air and caught it, signalling the end of an awesome performance.