Live Review: Rival Schools

It was a very reverential crowd that took in a revitalised Rival Schools at the Annandale. With just two albums under their belt, original indie-rock cult classic United By Fate (2001) and now last year's Pedals, Rival Schools have maintained a very passionate fanbase who, rather than bounce or mosh, gave voice to all their favourite old songs.

First band on, Collapso, formed from the remnants of several underground Sydney rock bands, played scorching melodic rock and played it well. The dual vocals across the front gave the songs a rousing, 'wanna be in my gang' feel.

Toy Boats, for his tender age and shy between song banter, defied logic when his rich vibrato shared a similar style to Bright Eyes. Though he's only just recruited a band, Toy Boats' stage mates grew epic, blazing soundscapes around that incredible voice. And though he won't be to everyone's taste, this young performer is definitely worth keeping an eye on.

At the other end of the experience spectrum, Rival Schools frontman Walter Schreifels is a NY hardcore legend, making this band somewhat of an anomaly on his CV. The reduction of the band to a three-piece has seen the trio morph their set away from the sharp, cutting punch of their albums and into a more blissful, fuzzed out ride. Peppering a couple of brand new songs through a long set that didn't seem to favour either album, the trio rode a tight groove all the way through.

Where United By Fate thrills because of its three minute pop bursts, the band's live set gave the songs room to breathe, extending them out into long swirls of razor sharp guitars and rolling rhythms. A slightly off-kilter mix sometimes gave the bass undue prominence and the set was shadowed by a persistent amp buzz, but they were small setbacks.

Though there wasn't a lot of chat between songs, Schreifels had a quiet chuckle to himself when an audience member requested High Acetate about four songs after it had been played. But Schreifels, ever keen to please a fan, replayed the start of the song as saloon bar ditty. It was a light moment in what was an otherwise intense live experience. Hopefully the new songs in the set suggest a new album is on the horizon and a return to Australian shores.