Review: Greg Phillips. Photos: Jason Rosewarne
Much like a new album or song can invigorate a band’s career, a new venue can energise an audience’s enthusiasm for getting out and about too. Launching in 2024, the people behind the acclaimed A Day On The Green series have transformed Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens’ Observatory Precinct into a delightful new inner-city live music experience. Last night, Live At The Gardens presented The Living End, supported by Private Function and The Prize.
Parking ourselves on the lawn, merely 60 metres from the stage, our meeting landmark was a row of majestic pine trees ( Araucariaceae, an ancient lineage of conifers, and some of the first exotic trees planted in Melbourne). At the rear of the venue and to the right lay The Eatery food truck area, which provided a decent choice of fare with easy access for punters (although-a-tad-expensiveus).
Just a week after launching their debut album ‘In The Red’, Melbourne 5-piece band The Prize kick started Live At The Gardens with their quality blend of power pop and straight ahead rock ’n’ roll. It’s clear this band has spent many hours in the rehearsal space and playing local gigs refining their punchy live sound. The band’s 3-guitar barrage of riffs and solid rhythm section made for a perfect opener for the evening. ‘From The Night’ was a particular crowd fave.
Private Function brought their finest punk spirit to the plant-life. In scenes of total chaos, towering bass player Milla Holland and lead vocalist Chris Penney criss-crossed the stage frantically, narrowly avoiding collision as they provoked the audience to join them in their energetic anarchy. On ‘Fuck Me Dead’ guitar feedback was a lethal weapon. Penney told us ‘Speed Bumps, was a love song, written about finding the quickest route to his girlfriend’s house, while avoiding traffic disruptions. ‘Koala’, Penney told us, is Ross Wilson’s (Daddy Cool/Mondo Rock) favourite song. Dickheads? Yes! Idiots? Certainly … but there’s a large degree of sarcasm in their unique blend of social commentary too. “I Wish Australia Had It’s Guns Again” … hmm no thanks. Aidan Mcdonald left the drum kit for the front of stage mic to take on ‘Holbrook’, “a better alternative to Albury/Wodonga.” Then the band finished with a manic version of Coldplay’s ‘Yellow’, leaving us to ponder WTF we’d just witnessed. Good old fashioned larrikin Australian punk fun is my nearest guess. Dave Warner’s From The Suburbs would be proud.
The running order for The Living End was two sets, the first consisting of tracks from their new album I Only Trust Rock n Roll plus hits and deep cuts, then for the second they play their debut album in total, an enticing supply of rock ’n’ roll for fans of The End. The band wasted no time in rocking out with the first single from the new album ‘Alfie’, which has quickly become a crowd favourite. The classic ‘Roll On’ followed, indicating that the band meant serious business from the get-go. Mixing things up, they returned to the new album with ‘Rollin’, then delivered fierce versions of ‘Pictures in the Mirror’ and ‘Hey Hey Disbeliever’ prompting a mass singalong. As Chris Cheney told us in a recent interview, when they hit the stage the band always gives their all and as a result, sometimes blow bigger names away as they did to ZZ Top earlier in the year. ’Nothing Lasts Forever’ from the State of Emergency album, a song they rarely play is an entertaining change of pace… and what a song! They throw in ‘Strange Place’ from the new one then back it up with ‘Who’s Gonna Save Us’. These guys know how to frame a set list. ‘Misery’, a not too shabby rocker from I Only Trust Rock n Roll was a perfect way to take us into half time.
Cheney, Owen and Strachan returned to the stage and brought the rain with them, adding even more drama to the show’s epic atmosphere. The band’s anthem ‘Prisoner of Society’ echoed throughout the gardens precinct. No acknowledgement of Metallica, who just a couple of weeks ago performed (butchered some say) their own version of the song to 50,000 at Marvel. It’s the thought that counts. With TLE ripping out their self-titled debut in full, loyal fans who have played the album to death, knew exactly what was coming next and joined in the chorus of each and every song. With so many gig miles behind them, The Living End is as tight as a band can get and with the Oils and Chisel now done and dusted, they certainly must be considered the greatest live band in Australia and easily one of the best in the world. The rain continued to pour down and so too did the anthems, ‘All Torn Down,’ and ‘West End Riot’ among the most joyous. Cheney questioned their decision to end an album with an instrumental but played a jubilant version of ‘Closing In’ to end the main set. Deciding not to leave the crowd in the rain for too long, their return for an encore was quick. “We’re going to play two more songs,” Cheney announced as both band and audience simultaneously shouted out the opening strains of ‘White Noise’. It’s such a mighty song and there was such a communal vibe happening at the gardens, this is what a true rock ’n’ roll show looks and sounds like. “We’re The Living End from Melbourne,’ Cheney proudly stated before leading the audience in one final shoutalong with ‘Uncle Harry’ from the Roll On album. Incredible band, great venue, good times.
