AirbourneThere's not a hipster in sight tonight at Corner Hotel and all of the beards on display are firmly attached to men with the ability to fix a leaky pipe and perform an oil change on a car (at the very least). Everyone at this sold-out show is here to see Airbourne, yet all stand rigidly, respectfully, with beers in hand to watch opener Chinatown Angels ham it up on the small stage.
Hints of classic, early-'80s metal – Ozzy Osbourne and Judas Priest – colour the band's sound, with the odd synchronised guitar move adding some sizzle to the visuals. Singer Jason Maher loves the spotlight – big hair and eyes scanning the crowd, he knuckles down and gets his job done confidently. It's only just after 9pm and two audience members are already hammered and thrashing about stage right – a portent of what is to come, perhaps?
Second out of the gates and this time on the main stage, Palace Of The King continue to keep the audience's testosterone levels on the parboil with their bluesy, guitar-driven rock. There are some tidy licks getting thrown about by these boys and the slide work opening The Devil Made Me Do It adds a southern feel to the band's sound. It's a shame the keys aren't more prominent in the mix, however, as the animated Sean Johnston is unyielding in the ferocity of his attack on the keyboard. Some quality harmonica playing keeps things from getting stale and by set's end a large portion of the crowd is well sauced and in no state to operate heavy machinery.
The theme music for James Cameron's Terminator 2: Judgement Day comes over the PA and, as the penny drops among the crowd, the contrast between this and the explosion of the band's arrival is as subtle as a slap in the face with a wet fish. Lit up like AC/DC's Thunderstruck film-clip, the band are here with lead singer Joel O'Keeffe shirtless and looking like he's already run 10kms in the rain with his white Gibson Explorer. All three band members in front of drummer Ryan O'Keeffe parade the stage in the manner of a band accustomed to playing much larger venues, adding polish to the hi-octane generator that they truly are.
Ready To Rock lets the crowd know who's boss and Diamond In The Rough plays early, not that anybody cares. Fists pump the air as bodies fly and, mid-concert, Joel O'Keeffe navigates through the crowd astride heavyset shoulders as he plays his guitar, camera phones lighting up to capture the scene. An alcohol-fuelled moment has him pounding a beer on his own head until it combusts, his ode to VB not falling upon deaf ears.
A stage diver who's made it past security, launches into the crowd during Airbourne's Stand Up For Rock 'N' Roll encore. By show's close, none are disappointed since Airbourne's performance cannot be faulted. They prove that (all AC/DC comparisons aside) a band that destroys live is a band that destroys, period.
