From Kram’s first smash of the drums, renowned Aussie rockers Spiderbait sent the crowd surfing back to the height of the 1990s thrashing live alternative scene.
Like no time had passed, Spiderbait belted out a killer set with raw and random energy from start to finish to a fist pumping crowd.
Vocal duties were once again shared by drummer Kram and bassist Janet English, accompanied by guitarist Damian Whitty.
Spiderbait was originally formed by the three friends in the rural township of Finley. Having learned their trade bashing out thrash-pop tunes in the shed on Janet’s family’s farm, they soon relocated down to Melbourne and made their mark on the Australian live scene. Since then, they have released seven acclaimed albums, taken home numerous ARIA Awards, chalked up a number one single with their 2004 cover of Leadbelly’s Black Betty and even topped Triple J Hottest 100 for Buy Me A Pony in 1996.
And this gig proved they still got it.
From the get go, Spiderbait showed they were ready to roll, with Kram giving us a taste of his brilliant drumming in the sound check, before opening with ‘Straight Through the Sun’ and pop-punk favourite ‘Outta My Head’.
It wasn’t long before punters become joyfully boisterous – crowd surfing to the likes of insanely catchy ‘Hot Water and Milk’ and the roller coaster ride of bubble-gum-pop track ‘Calypso’, from the chart topping album Ivy and the Big Apples.
Spiderbait didn’t let up and kept the set alive rolling on with a wide range of crowd favourites including ‘Fucken Awesome’ and early Primus-influenced ‘Old Man Sam’.
This high energy paced gig with its rafter hanging, table- top dancing crowd, proved yet again rock is not dead and even though it was 23 years ago when Spiderbait reached number one on triple j, the grungy 90’s generation still knows how to party.
When: Saturday December 28
Where: Torquay Hotel, Torquay
Reviewed by Sally Poehland
Photos by Jontee Langton
