Live Review: Dead Letter Circus

“Well, this is different,” vocalist Kim Benzie claims as the band take their seats upon the dimly lit stage, brandishing acoustic instruments.

The crowd’s unsettled aura lifts immediately as Dead Letter Circus break into a stripped-back rendition of The Space On The Wall. From the first note, it’s clear that this will be a DLC gig like no other.

Guitarist Luke Palmer is not without his trusty effects pedals, which allow him to capture DLC’s signature sound without detracting from the acoustic feel. The set is full of surprises: fan favourites such as Big and One Step are acoustic carbon copies of their original counterparts, while The Veil is completely unrecognisable yet somehow manages to stay true to the original song’s emotional content. The reimagined tracks don’t lack any of the energy that their amplified counterparts exude, yet the beauty of their new form leaves the audience motionless, mesmerised.

The usual suspects are joined on stage by former member Scott Davey, who left the band when his wife got pregnant. Benzie teases that were it not for his former-bandmate’s “overactive ballbag”, he would still be touring with them internationally. The band remain seated for the duration of the show and, with nowhere to hide, Benzie reveals that performing an acoustic gig is incredibly daunting, much more so than the intensity of the electric performances they are accustomed to.

Purists who have yet to listen to Stand Apart, Dead Letter Circus’ brand new acoustic EP, may only have experienced the band acoustically through their complete reworking of Rage Against The Machine’s Killing In The Name for triple j’s Like A Version, which was met with mixed reviews – blasphemy or genius? As the evening draws to a close, the boys round out the set with this cover. This gives us the chance to chant, “And now you do what they told ya!” plus other profanities and is intended, no doubt, to be a massive ‘up yours’ to their critics, as well as the Abbott government to whom the song is dedicated.

Tonight’s intimate setting and acoustic instrumentation allow Dead Letter Circus to showcase both their songwriting and playing talent. The result is incredible.

Note: This article was corrected to reflect that this gig featured Luke Palmer on guitar and ex-member Scott Davey guesting.