Upon entering a gig where The Living End are playing, you will notice one thing initially – there is always a huge crowd drinking and then you will notice throughout the night the passion that leaks into each punter about this band that reigns above all else and you will find it electrifying. Fans just love them, I mean really love them.
At first I was listening to DJ Cosmic Dolphin (Johnny from Children Collide) crank tunes such as Metallica, Rage Against The Machine and Queen (crowd sing along going nuts with their hands waving in the air) and then the ten second countdown on a screen began where everyone joined in to count down, and then we are watching a short retrospective video about the album Roll On.
All vision is depicted in the year 2000 and vision of Sydney Commonwealth Games, the treatment of Aboriginals, drummer Travis Demsey leaving the band (‘We Miss You’ yells out one punter); singer Chris Cheney’s involvement in a bad car accident (the crowd cheers here that he pulled through) and drummer Andy Strachan joining the band (insert wild applause here). We find out the band were originally called Run Away Boys playing covers and that the band was and still are the hardest rocking Australian live band on earth.
Roll On was produced by Nick Launay (Silverchair, Midnight Oil) and the band believed this album had to be a creative one as they wanted to prove to critics their work wasn’t going to be defined by their past hit single “Prisoner of Society”. Roll On is laced with pub rock and punk sounds and is full of texture. This album reached the USA radio and the song “Carry Me Home” made it to a game soundtrack (Guitar Hero).
As mentioned, Chris Cheney was in a car accident, he was surrendered to not being able to play for a lengthy period of time so this obviously led to tours being cancelled and the album not ‘getting out there’ as it could have been. In saying this, the album did live up to incredible expectations and blew the hearts and minds of many critics. The Living End are ultimately a rock n roll band, infused with the sound of 1950’s intertwined with punk, blues and occasionally pop. This album displayed numerous horn sections and gave them two platinum records in the Australian music charts and today it’s their third most successful release after their debut album and State of Emergency. The thank you list inside the actual cd, covers a full page and lists some well known artists that helped pave their successful career.
So, tonight is the celebration of their second album release Roll On. As with all gigs on this tour, the band is playing their album in full and in the track order and the show is sold out. It’s a thank you to the fans for allowing the band to continue over the years and I must say what a fantastic idea for a tour!
The Living End enter the stage and the punters go nuts, moshing starts within seconds and “Roll On” is belted out whilst punters jump up and down and sweat with the band. People in the front have written signs, which Cheney pointed out was amusing to read throughout the set. The light show goes nuts and the boys play each tune with gusto and speed, as though they were playing for the first time.
The Living End don’t disappoint, I must say that they are one of my favourite bands to see live as each performance is one hell of a show, the energy of the band mixed with the energy of the crowd, it just doesn’t get any better. Scott Owen pumps that double bass and you just know he practically sleeps with that instrument; it’s like an extension of his arm. Live touring member Adrian Lombardi cranking those backing vocals and adding that extra layer with his additional guitar.
“Pictures In The Mirror”, “Riot on Broadway”, “Staring At The Light” followed by “Carry Me Home” that possesses full on crowd moshing with the fast paced music blended with a blues groove. At this time punters start chanting Aussie Aussie Aussie! to which the band laugh. “Don’t Shut The Gate” is followed by Cheney announcing the winner of the signed poster raffle and he brings the two winners up on stage and before we know it, the guy proposes to his girlfriend (who says yes) and after much whooping and band hugging it’s time to get into “Dirty Man” followed by “Blood On Your Hands”, which we enjoyed for its reggae feel, and the crowd begins to sway whilst the stage is mainly lit with red ambience.
Into the Queen cover “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” but Cheney doesn’t let it finish before “Revolution Regained” takes us down another fast path and Cheney’s guitar solo fills the room. “Silent Victory”, “Read About It”, then Cheney talks about the old days, how they played for five years, playing the same stuff such as the next song by The Stray Cats called “Rock This Town” then back to their tunes – “Killing The Right” and “Astoria Paranoia” is played. We are told it’s about a huge night out and how paranoia sets in. The stage is filled with strobe lights aptly enough for this tune.
Lastly is “Uncle Harry” where each punter knows each word and bellows out their voices which fill the room thick and fast ‘Uncle Harry pissing in the bath, Whoa pissing in the bath again!’ we all sing!
Its over before we know it and most of the crowd file out the door, knowing that we’ll all be back for another gig, maybe tomorrow night or over the next week and we smile at each other like we are family, like we are witnessing a band at the height of their powers.
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