Live Review: DZ Deathrays, Ecca Vandal, SOX

In what was a bit of a strange choice for a rock show, SOX (a local hip hop artist) took to the stage at Jack Rabbit Slim's on Saturday to open for DZ Deathrays. However, it wasn't long before he showed the audience why he had been chosen as the opening support. SOX had a great rhythm and the words flowed from him, skilfully and with style, as he worked the stage and the crowd. While there seemed to be quite a few people here that hadn't heard of him before, his smile and confidence soon won the rock crowd over and he definitely left with extra fans.

Ecca Vandal was next up on stage and completely blew the crowd away within seconds. As with any act, you always get those that sound better on record, those that sound exactly the same as their records and then those like Ecca Vandal where no recording will ever be able to recreate the energy of their live shows. She acts like a complete nutter on stage and it's just such magic to watch. Hits including White Flag, Truth To Trade and Battle Royal were played. If you haven't seen her yet, do yourself a favour and check her out as soon as possible. It is everything you could want from a live performance.

Once Ecca Vandal finished, the moshpit was suddenly tightly packed and everyone in it just knew it was going to get completely insane once DZ Deathrays came out. They are the kind of band for which you don't stand at the front unless you are prepared for a thrashing.

They played all their hits including No Sleep, Gina Works At Hearts, Dollar Chills and a new song Pollyanna. DZ Deathrays ended their set with probably one of the best covers of The Beastie Boys' Sabotage that we've ever heard, with Ecca Vandal taking on vocals.

While they are technically a two-piece band, DZ Deathrays have a touring guitarist with them that cranks their sound up from already ten to off the charts. DZ Deathrays are one of those bands that you want to see in a smaller venue so that you can be enveloped by their sound and experience the writhing pit with crowdsurfers and stagedivers galore. They are undoubtedly one of Australia's best live acts and will always leave you walking out of their show bruised, battered and aching but totally loving life.