Arriving early to catch the little known-to-me New Orleans alternative rockers, Mutemath, I was surprised to find out that they are quite a mixture of differing sounds. What started out as melancholic shoegaze jam escalated into U2 territory and quickly became a high energy indie rock band complete with a keytar and an impressive use of percussion. I had my doubts but the band’s short set found an appreciative audience. The band knew that with the bands to follow, they had to give us something to remember them by so bringing out a large blow-up mattress that lit up and throwing it on to the audience seemed as good an idea as any. Vocalist Paul Meany ran and leaped from the stage onto the mattress and was passed around the room as he sang the band to a close. Did I mention that the mattress lit-up with flashing lights? Well it did. It was quite Iggy Pop-esque and pretty darn impressive.
San Diego’s Rocket From The Crypt haven’t been to Australia in around 12 years and their return back was met with open arms and huge applause. Wasting no time in getting down and getting with it, frontman Speedo made sure we were going to have the time of our lives and the rock n roll just blasted through the stacks and had the people movin’ and groovin’. They tore through their classics like I’m Not Invisible, Born In 69, On A Rope and Young Livers and the whole place was just shakin’. They not only sounded great but they played their hearts out and put every bit of sweat and blood into giving us the performance we have been waiting so many years for. You could really feel the love and appreciation in the room for one of rock n roll’s most entertaining bands complete with a bitchin’ horn section and one of rock’s most energetic drummers, Mario Rubalcaba (Hot Snakes, OFF!, Earthless).
The much anticipated Eagles Of Death Metal came on stage to an extremely excited audience as vocalist and all round charasmatic rock icon, Jesse Hughes, spent a few minutes basking in the love and attention of his adoring fans before letting rip right into Don’t Speak. They came to make a bang and that’s exactly what they did belting out a whole slew of catchy numbers including Cherry Cola, Whore Hoppin’ and I Only Want You as the girls wooed and the guys showered the band with praise. Armed with red sunglasses, a cape and some of the grooviest stage dancing moves known to man, Jesse and Co delivered a full set of fun filled classics.
Those that came to get rocked, got seriously rocked. It has to be said though that even as great as the Eagles of Death Metal were and are as a band, this night belonged to the highly energetic and no-time-for-filler set of the much loved Rocket From The Crypt. They’re a hard act to follow and this night proved once again why they can kick out the jams with the best of them and still come out on top.
Words by Damo Musclecar
Photos by Adam Russ
