Live Review: Bloods, Scotdrakula

On first glance, Melbourne's terrifically-named Scotdrakula are amusingly a sort of bizarro Bloods: two boys up front bringing rip-snorting adolescent energy and bratty charm, and a fierce gal keeping things steady behind the kit.

The band's songs never got too complex, but were kept alive with the help of some searing guitar solos, pounding drums and yelping vocals.

A couple of tracks had something of a Pixies feel to them, and singer Matt Neumann is certainly up there with Black Francis when it comes to giving a chaotic, seemingly unhinged vocal performance. There was plenty of variety on show too - a later track had an uptempo blues-rock feel like something Bob Log III might bust out (if there were three of him), whilst another, supposedly their slow jam, made good use of a tremolo pedal leading up to a head-banging chorus.

Bloods made a triumphant return to their old stomping ground Goodgod Small Club, this time on the back of a massive year of successes, not least the release of a pretty great debut LP.

Goodgod's Danceteria was and is a perfect room for the band; dimly lit and smoky enough to disguise even the worst dancing, and thankfully the place was well and truly filling up by the time they took the stage. Album opener Break Your Heart started the set, one of the band’s heavier songs, and got heads banging.

Things really picked up a few songs in with the rousing Into Your Arms, whilst "fucked-up love song" Back To You brought some tenderness before tearing into a crashing chorus, cymbals flying every which way. Capping things off were latest single Penelope, with its brilliant melodies & brutal rhythm (drummer Dirk was almost out of his seat just about the whole song) and album highlight Nothin’ But Time which had the whole room shouting along with its outro.