Photo: Kristen Ashton

I have not seen The Arena this packed so early at a gig. The Silents play to a very receptive sold-out audience, most of who are in attendance for their noise-rock musings. With a vocalist who reminds me of Craig Nicholls without the instrument-thrashing and a collection of songs that are extremely engaging, they begin the night on a very high note.

Melbourne’s Children Collide arrive next with little fanfare. However, from the moment diminutive guitarist/vocalist Johnny Mackay starts throwing his guitar around like a rag doll, it’s on for young and old. The crowd continues lapping it up. The songs ebb and flow: instrumental jams, songs drenched with effects, pulsating rhythms and energy levels the likes of which the energizer bunny would be envious of.

By this time you can cut the atmosphere and the humidity with a knife. The Living End stride into the soup-like temperature and set about putting every other band on the bill to shame. For over an hour, Chris Cheney, Scott Owen and Andy Strachan show me why they are the preeminent Australian rock act today. From thundering hit What’s On Your Radio to West End Riot – there is no respite from either them or the bouncing crowd, who scream along to every word. Their encore is the best I have seen this year. Full of showmanship, it’s an insane rockabilly/blues jam complete with solos all round, leading into their first ever hit Second Solution. Tonight The Living End leave no stone unturned. The Arena is so happy that it seems even the roof is crying tears of joy. Don’t think of it as condensation from all the sweating bodies – the way The Living End play, nothing, not even a rock venue, can remain unaffected.

LINDSEY CUTHBERTSON

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