Words by: Belinda Quick
Photos by: Justine White
“Music evokes so many feelings in us, memories, nostalgia, things that are connected to our past” – Olga Kurylenko
Although many years have passed, the indelible bliss of the new millennium burns bright. Perhaps a reaction to the collective exhaustion at enduring neverending ‘once in a generation’ crises, maybe an effort to rekindle some semblance of our once youthful innocence, the era’s distinctive cultural epochs maintain a lasting legacy.
Riding a particularly regenerative second wave of late, Gen X & Y’s past life experiences are being embraced by Gen Z. In a fashion similar to the former’s nostalgic romanticisation of the 1960s, it’s now our turn to proudly announce ‘what was old is new again’, revisit and reshare the very best of Y2K iconography.
Befittingly, tonight’s concert sees representatives of the broader demographic unite for a distinctly Australian demonstration of this fascination phenomenon; celebrating 30 years of 28 DAYS, a band whose music epitomised then, and whose eternally cheeky character continues to embody now, all the unrivalled glory of time gone by.
The Victorian rockers hand-selecting tonight’s support act from their home state, BLAME IT ON BAD LUCK bless their good fortune. As Hopes & Dreams come to fruition, the next generation nostalgists “taking this one back”, little is needed to convince the Adelaide crowd to Fuck You, Listen. Interspersing originals with a Carousel of cover classics, the Melbournians’ skate-punk energy Truly, Madly, Deeply captures the audience’s attention; the opening Introduction is over in a flash, “28 Days are up next, let’s have some fun!”
Forever the joker, vocalist Jay Dunne announces upon arrival: “Welcome back to the new millennium!” Affectionately riling the crowd he taunts, “we got ya, Suckers”, launching straight into a set of solid gold hits. Igniting the memories and passions of younger years he remains the voice of a generation, keen as ever to unleash there’s a reluctant mutual recognition: “When you’re this old, it’s hard, but not as hard as Adelaide; you guys have always been fucking ace to us, so I’ll pull something out of nothing tonight.”
Guitarist Simon Hepburn playfully laments choosing potentially “the worst night to put on a gig in SA, the Showdown”, he makes the most of the moment and rhetorically asks to Know the Score. Unwittingly receiving an almighty reply from a football fanatic, the hometown battle trademarked by the Ball of Hate is destined to conclude concurrently, with an even mightier “Power!” chant for the unlikely underdog’s victory yet to come.
“This one goes out to our good mate, Vinnie, and throws back to the days when we thought we might become a death metal band”, laughs Dunne. Referencing the band’s Stealing Chairs era drummer, Vinnie Jukic of DAY OF CONTEMPT, the shifting Sand of percussionists who’ve manned the 28 Days kit is a thoughtful conversation point tonight. From the tragic Goodbye to Scott Murray to a heartfelt welcome for TRUTH CORRODED’s Adrian Griffin, stories acting like wings of The Bird Take Me Away to another time; the band’s presence bringing me back to being in the now.
So damn Kool, Dunne opens the synonymous call-and-response, receiving the implicit reply to “28 Days can…”, “Fuck off!” Any uninitiated parties along for the ride undoubtedly asking What’s the Deal, passersby perhaps querying their hearing of us all Say What, A General consensus is reached inside the walls of the Lion Arts Factory – this band is still Deadly Like no other.
Raucous to the very last note there’s little conscious recognition, there is only enough time and space left for one more tonight. Music once again providing the vessel which connects memory and emotion, pure unadulterated fun is “what we’re all about”; a last chance to Rip It Up together is taken, and on-and-off stage done, in proper Upstyledown.
GALLERY
28 DAYS
BLAME IT ON BAD LUCK
