Live Review: Japandroids, Buzz Kill

The evening began on a dark and moody note with Buzz Kull, the two-piece pulling out a short but hypnotising set that was heavy on drone, yet laden with melodic warmth. A different kind of noise to what we would get with the main act.

Japandroids have been touring for 18 months, and these Australian shows were the home stretch. Where one might anticipate or even accept a lethargic performance, the Vancouver duo of guitarist Brian King and drummer David Prowse threw themselves into every song with violent enthusiasm, instilling an incomparable bonhomie between band and audience. Warming up with Adrenaline Nightshift, every song had a near ecstatic response from the sardine-packed crowd, with legs flying into the air and bodies cartwheeling over heads. The sheer amount of noise the duo are capable of making with just guitar, drums and vocals at their disposal is exhilarating, helped along by the multitude of voices singing every lyric back to them.

As King pointed out numerous times during the night, it was the crowd's excitement that fed their performance, and the fans gave it in spades. Screaming alongside Prowse on Younger Us, or throwing heads back to wail the chorus of Young Hearts Spark Fire, the evening's vibe was one of reckless abandon. Case in point was during The House That Heaven Built, when a stage-diving fan was pulled off by two burly security guards, only for King to stop the song and reiterate that he was fine with fans throwing themselves up on stage and all over him. Recommencing the song, the chaos that ensued was heartwarmingly manic. Fans leapt onto the stage to dance before flinging themselves into waiting arms time and time again, while the ferocious pound of the song grew into a cacophony of screams and King's words of “If they try to slow you down/Tell 'em all to go to hell!” rang out like an anthem.

Ending on their cover of The Gun Club's For The Love Of Ivy – no unnecessary encore – Japandroids left a remarkable impression at their first ever Sydney club show.