UC Refectory, Canberra
Saturday October 20, 2018 :
Fresh off the back of the release of their latest album, Yumeno Garden, Last Dinosaurs made their way up and down the east coast for an intimate tour at smaller venues than the Brisbane indie rock collective are used to. I caught them at the Canberra leg of the tour, playing at a laid back uni pub, which the band effortlessly turned into a pit of starry-eyed punters, a scene far removed from the deserted streets of Arita where they wrote and recorded their new album.
A set from String Elephants, an up-and-coming band of Canberra locals, was the highlight of the opening acts, the Triple J Unearthed favourites stealing the show with their lively baselines, guitar riffs and surprising harmonies. The band was supported by dozens of their mates in the audience, knowing every song off by heart, but their catchy choruses had everyone else singing along as well. The band bolstered an already great set with a cover of Two Door Cinema Club’s ‘Someday’, a rendition which easily deserves to sit among the Like a Version archives.
‘Eleven’, the second single off Last Dinosaurs’ new album was one of the opening tracks of their set, and instantly got the whole venue dancing to the feel-good vibes of the band. The band kept the mood high with a mix of their well-known classics and newer jams to keep both old and new fans happy. They also played a few covers, including a rendition of Junior Senior’s ‘Move Your Feet’ that gave bass guitarist Michael Sloane’s career as a hip-hop artist serious promise.
By the end of the set, the crowd was infected with energy and the band had barely started walking offstage before the entire venue was chanting for an encore. Back on stage, the band finished with their 2018 comeback single, ‘Dominos’ that has been dominating the airwaves since its release at the start of the year.
Last Dinosaurs owned their set at UC Hub, playing through a few technical difficulties with professional ease. By the end of their set, the audience members who had come along to hear their more well-known singles were converted to fans looking forward to their upcoming 2019 album tour.
Reviewer : Vivienne Wells
Photographer : Sean O’Reilly
LAST DINOSAURS
SPIT CHEWY
STRING ELEPHANT
