UK duo Royal Blood have something of a history in Australia. The project seemed to have been formed while lead vocalist and bass guitarist Mike Kerr was living in Brisbane, and started popping up performing with the likes of Tape/Off, DZ and many more Brisbane favourites. It wasn’t until he returned to Brighton and teamed up with Ben Thatcher, the current drummer, however, that the Royal Blood we know today was formed.
And on that note, off the back of releasing their debut EP Out of the Black in March, this week marked the first time that Royal Blood have toured Australia; last night being their first of two shows at Sydney’s Oxford Art Factory (their second and final show with Born Lion is tonight).
Arriving on stage to the sounds of Jay-Z’s “99 Problems”, Ben and Mike wasted no time jumping into the set, featuring tracks off their debut EP and their still-to-be-released album (expected in late August). A track which featured as a B-Side to one of their singles and eventually was released on their EP, “Hole”, with a Nirvana heavy riff, kicked off the night. Comparisons can be made all over the place for this band – from DFA1979 to Jack White, Hanni El Khatib to Cold War Kids (see “Hospital Beds”). But ultimately what this duo are is very much what many of these other artists also embody: loud, proud, rock and roll.
“Little Monsters” off the EP was a hit with the crowd, as was its title track, though lesser known songs like “Figure Out” and “Loose Change” (which was very Jack White I have to say), were also well received. And so it should be. There is a depth to their music which is impressive given this is just a bassist and a drummer – yes, it’s a bass guitar that leads those stinging riffs. And boy does it feel good.
They hit off the production nice well as well. Simple light show, precise vocal effects – echos and the like – to give it that extra oomph. There’s only so much you can do with a two piece, after all, but they make sure to keep it as simple as possible. What Mike does with his bass guitar is nothing short of outstanding, especially without loop pedals.
There was no encore, though a lengthy jam off the end of “Out Of The Black” would be enough to see the band off after a 40 minute (or so) set. It was all just a taste of what’s to come, and indeed it has us anticipating the full length and their inevitable return to our shores. And there are fewer better venues to do that in Sydney than at the Oxford Art Factory.
