Live Review: The Meanies, Leeches!, Beer Fridge, Bikini Cops

Young dudes Bikini Cops kicked off the night with their brand of new-wave garage-punk that is experiencing a resurgence in Perth at the moment. A standoffish crowd received them well as they frantically smashed through a super-fun, tight set.

Lords of WA thrash Beer Fridge grabbed the energy of the room, stuffed it in a thrash can and set it on fire. The Margaret River lads' chaotic set sapped everything from the room and threw it back in our faces. Beer Fridge absolutely smashed through a half-hour set that must have had about 20 songs rammed in. Everything the band does is at a 100 miles an hour, but never do they sacrifice melody and catchiness in favour of speed and chaos.

Leeches! are definitely no strangers to an interstate support slot and there is good reason for that - they're a fucking great, solid-as-a-rock band who are incapable of putting on a bad show. Leeches!' '80s-tinged hardcore rock'n'roll went down a treat as punters began moving on the dancefloor. Singer/guitarist Benny J Ward's impeccably timed banter between songs sees the quick-fire set flow like ten dollar Asahi pints over the bar. As impressive as the blistering punk rock of Leeches! is, they also seamlessly transitioned down to the odd slower-paced, weightier number and created a well-rounded, well-oiled punk machine that never stopped moving.

There was no doubt from the get-go that The Meanies were the band everyone came to see. With whispers of it being their last-ever show in Perth, there was no extra motivation needed for a crowd that had finally seemed to loosen up for the occasion. It's hard to believe that The Meanies started life in 1988 as their music and stage presence are still completely relevant. The band played a solid mix of songs ranging from 1992's debut album Come 'N' See all the way through to the 2015 Poison City Records release It's Not Me, It's You. Singer Link Meanie leads his band's nostalgic punk-rock journey laced with surprisingly technical harmonies, strong melodies and just enough gruff and rust to keep the loyal, ageing crowd chomping at the bit throughout, hanging onto his every word (and sporadic hip gyration). The Meanies really have done it all over their 20-plus-year career. If the rumours are true and this is the last time we get to see them in all their indie-punk glory, then what a wonderfully intimate occasion it was.