With today being the first day of the fourth month of what seems to be a year which is travelling at the speed of light, I think of change. Change that has happened within the Brisbane music scene, with venues opening/closing/changing hands/reformatting more often than a teenagers hormones. I head on down to Woodland, a new bar to house our local and afar musicians and attendees. To see DZ, now DZ DEATHRAYS, a two piece which has been inciting seizures and flooding cochlea with their sonic infused party rock, for a number of years now.
I begin to wonder whether my personal nostalgia is a serious personal revelation or this is some big April fools joke my mind has played on me.
With the door time being an unusual 9pm. Naturally, I get really worried when I arrive at Woodland at 10. Luckily, as I arrived, no band or show had begun so I was rather happy I hadn't missed anything.
Then as the clock begins to click I wonder wether I have missed it all.
The clock strikes 11, Locals Dune Rats take to the stage with a mix of garage indie rock and basketball jerseys. They play through their set with all the flair and stage presence they are beginning to get renowned for. With lead singer Danny venturing into the crowd early with his guitar to insight some major crowd interaction.
While Dune Rats prove to be technically bang on, the personalities of the band members at points are on opposite wave lengths with tonights audience to the point of pretension on the bands part.
With a spectacular ensemble of additional musicians for a percussion based finale I look at my watch and begin to wonder whether the set length was long enough, clocking in between the 20-25 min mark.
At points, great band! At others, not so great band. They would have been great opening tonight if another support band followed them, but not quite there yet to be playing the position they have.
On a roller coaster of great gigs and subject to a metaphorical mobile phone game of snake worth of fanfare and press. DZ DEATHRAYS upon walking on stage have every audience members attention with bar lines emptying and smokers ascending the stairs in order to not miss a moment of this two pieces glory.
Almost fresh off the plane from a American stint which included blowing the roof off Maggie Mae's Australian BBQ at SXSW. We are treated to the same caliber of performance which has been gathering U.S. attention, with Shane and Simon twangin' and bangin' away, rivalling fellow SXSW riot instigators Death From Above 1979.
As the norm, DZ's light show is spell bounding with fog machines complimenting a ballistic strobe light and wall lighting which also pays compliments to Woodlands Decor.
Playing largely from their second EP, 'Brutal Tapes'. Single off the EP 'Gebbie Street' sends a notable climate shift in the audiences spines and truly sends the message that it is time to party, with its funk groove guitar lines and drum work to it's explosive chorus which could have been dubbed in over Nirvanas 'Teen Spirit' video clip and would have not lost a stride. A true highlight.
Other highlights include a blistering rendition of new single 'Rad Solar' and 'Blue Blood'. There is little breaks within the set with a constant mix of effects supplied by Shane Parsons ducking his head to his pedal board in between songs and Simon Ridley taking banter duties where he seemed to get a cheer for any words that came out of his mouth. Of course they were backed by a outstanding tambourine section side of stage.
Finishing with ol' sKool DZ off there first EP 'Ruined my Life'. My personal favourite, 'Teeth' (which got me hooked on the band back when they supported 'Philadelphia Grand Jury' way back when at The Troubadour) makes me accept the fact that I have missed my train and I am here to par-tay!
With their performance wrapping up close to 12.30 and the merch desk destroyed. It is clear that this band are a band that wont be playing venues this size for much longer and that it was a privilege to see such a spectacle such as tonights performance within the cosy walls of Woodland.
For those who haven't jumped on the DZ band wagon in past days, They have a new name and you have no excuse.
DZ DEATHRAYS 'Brutal Tapes' EP is currently available on iTunes and good ol' fashion physical editions can be found at Rockinghorse and all other good retailers
Bradley
No comments:
Post a Comment