The Tivoli, Brisbane
Friday June 10, 2016 :
The Living End haven’t released new music in over five years, and surely many of their fans were beginning to believe they may not be hearing from the rowdy three piece ever again. So when the band announced an Australian tour off the back of their new album Shift, the somewhat ageing fans (myself included) had the unexpected opportunity to dust off their black jeans and 90’s punk t-shirts.
The atmosphere at Brisbane’s Tivoli on Friday night was one of drunken anticipation. The night was kicked off by fellow Australian punk rockers 131s and Bad/Dreem who filled the iconic Brisbane venue with gritty, distorted guitar riffs and top speed drum lines.
By the time The Living End graced the stage the crowd were about ready to blow. They opened the show with ‘One Step’ followed by ‘Monkey’; however, it was the opening guitar riff of ‘Second Solution’ which really built the crowd into a frenzy. Scott Owen was inspired to perform his renowned double bass surfing manoeuvre, whereby he balances on top of his bass, defying gravity, while still hitting every note of the driving bass line.
Chris Cheney’s guitar work is as good as ever: combining fast punk inspired riffs with dissident jazzy solos to produce their characteristic sound. Being only a three piece band, the pressure is on Chris to fill the space with rhythm and lead guitar, which he seems to accomplish effortlessly.
The band went on to play classic tracks including ‘Prisoner Of Society’ and ‘Roll On’, with the crowd singing along to every word. It was interesting to hear Chris draw parallels between the song ‘All Torn Down’ and the fact that the Tivoli had recently narrowly escaped being torn down to make way for apartment blocks to be built in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley.
The Living End may have mellowed a little with age, but their performance was as tight as ever before. Friday night’s performance proved that as long as they are willing to play, Brisbane crowds are willing to get drunk and sweaty and energetically sing along with one of Australia’s most memorable punk bands.
Reviewer and Photographer: Chris Ward
