Live Review: Birds Of Tokyo, Regular John & Gung Ho

26 March 2013 | 11:49 am | Carley Hall

Wild At Heart is well received but their go-to track Lanterns is the obvious closer and the anthemic chorus makes it a special moment.

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There's a decent turnout already present to greet the Gung Ho lads when they shuffle onstage; the oft-shambolic Saturday nights downstairs at the Cooly Hotel hasn't claimed too many punters on their way through. Bespectacled vocal-sharing chaps Michael McAlary and Ollie Duncan do their thing, busting out Side By Side, newbie Strangers and Twin Rays, with just the odd pitchy line slightly denting their airy but solid garage surf-rock. The sound set-up really is average tonight, too loud if anything, so it's likely the fault lies there, but it doesn't affect the pair's likeable energy and wry, self-deprecating wit which is wantonly thrown in.

There's a danger of this support act's dire potential to upstage the headliners, such has been their success in years previous, and in particular late last year, fresh as a daisy in the memories of most. But it's a tough ask for Sydney psyche-rock four-piece Regular John when the fanbase has been so broadened and entrenched that the crowd they play to, although an appreciative one, is not an overcome one. Sky Burial and Slume get a massive response and rightly so; Ryan Adamson doesn't disappoint with his spot-on vocals for a moment and neither do the band, chugging out their bluesy wails with psychedelic bursts.

No longer regarded as a spot of tinkering in some of these boys' downtime, Birds Of Tokyo's fast-tracked rise to prominence these past few years blindsided some, and probably themselves. As the reconfigured five-piece bound onstage, the crowd erupts and there's a tangible excitement buzzing through the sold-out room. Liquid Arms is the opener, and as is the case with the new tracks they will play, it's a bit of a head-scratcher; having completely eschewed their former hard-rock sound in favour of a more light and synth-heavy textural one, their impact in the live setting is lessened. Regardless, they dig deep and play their usual tight set with flair, Ian Kenny the master performer (and awkward public speaker) as always, pulling out oldies Wild Eyed Boy, Broken Bones, Like Rain, and Silhouettic early, before turning the fuzz dials up for This Fire and Circles. It's been a mix-heavy debacle all night and it's no exception during the rockier tracks Murmurs, Saddest Thing I Know, and set closer Plans, but the man in charge overcomes such things with those well-oiled pipes of his.

A brief respite brings the clearly appreciative band back onstage to close out their tour with debut album classic Wayside, the bluesy licks and soulful delivery making it an undeniable highlight. Wild At Heart is well received but their go-to track Lanterns is the obvious closer and the anthemic chorus makes it a special moment.

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