Aussie punk rock royalty, The Living End, convened at Collingwood’s Gasometer Hotel on Wednesday 20 June, for what was one hell of an exclusive show.
Launching their new single ‘Don’t Lose It’, The Melbourne-based trio treated fellow Melburnians and long-time fans to a zesty set, which featured yet to be released tracks.
Taking to the stage, guitarist and vocalist Chris Cheney exclaimed, “We didn’t come to play the old stuff… but we will”, much to audience members’ satisfaction. And with this being said, the boys proceeded to deliver track after track fan favourites, including What’s On Your Radio, Roll On, and Second Solution, while seamlessly blending in the sounds of new tracks.
In the highly intimate setting that is The Gasometer Hotel, the humour and energy that Chris [Cheney], Scott [Owen] and Andy [Strachan] brought with them as a collective, did not go unnoticed. Telling tales of their time spent recording in Berlin and staying in accommodation which resembled that of a urinal, the boys went back and forth between themselves, inviting the audience to interject.
Suddenly I found myself standing in a quaint room, having a beer and a laugh with the beings which delivered the soundtrack of my childhood – or so it felt.
The Living End have cemented themselves as one of the most beloved Aussie rock acts for some 20 years, and if new single ‘Don’t Lose It’ is anything to go by, the subsequent record will ensure the boys continue to spread the message of our local music to the world, for years to come.
Reviewed by Helena Metzke