Live Review: British India, Unbroken Expanse

Not an inch of stage is wasted as lead singer Jimmy James of Unbroken Expanse shoots from one end to the other, mic in tow, all the while trying to dodge the bassist who's just as busy. The four-piece have flown in from the Northern Territory to play tonight and boy, is it worth it! They're animated, demonic and boisterous – blistering through a set of solid hard rock. Well worth the early arrival.

The air is thick as bodies pour into the Corner Hotel for tonight's sold-out British India show, yet this four-piece are no strangers to such success. Dubbed one of Australia's 'hardest working bands', the Melbourne group has consistently sold out venues across the country since '07's Guillotine, their loyal (and fierce) allegiance mounting with each new release. They possess a style that's very much their own, fusing pop melodies with alt.rock. 

Lead singer Declan Melia's opening banter is barely audible over the wild cheers and whistles that spill well into Russian Roulette. There's an immediate lift in the room, and it's only when we stop dancing for a breather (somewhere in between Safari, This Dance Is Loaded and Vanilla) that we notice every person mouthing each lyric. When Melia says, “Feel free to request songs,” he's hit with a barrage of requests and, by the time he announces Airport Tags  (a cult favourite for BI fans), the moshpit has swelled and we're pushed to the outer perimeter of the dancefloor.

The crowd is fanatic and the energy is unlike anything you'll ever see at a live show. There are crowd-surfers (all of whom play air guitar), strangers hugging when songs are announced and, during Avalanche, an empty bin even crowd-surfs. The vibe is addictive and everyone is sweaty and beer-soaked. The crowd feed off the energy of all four members – Will Drummond on bass and Nick Wilson on guitar, who don't stop dancing from start to finish; Melia's vocals are strong and pebbly, and his onstage charisma has the crowd mirroring his every hand movement, while drummer Matt O'Gorman is much more an innovator than beat-keeper, hailed as one of the best drummers in Australia. 

Their latest hit I Can Make You Love Me garners a huge reaction from all corners, yet it's the closing Black & White Radio that spawns frenzy. And before we know it, it's over. The packs hobble out, collectively singing, “Report to the dancefloor/Go-go-go-go!”