Supported by Gung Ho and Millions , Last Dinosaurs played to a sold out show at Northcote Social Club on the 20th of April. I was expecting a lot from them. I really was. I’ve always loved the band, but last night I don’t know… they were just… brilliant!
You thought I was about to launch into a scathing critique didn’t you? But how could I criticise lads who have some of the most well written music in Australia at the moment? I can’t. How could I criticise, when they played so god damn well live with an attitude that was relaxed, happy and just plain entertaining to watch? I can’t. Warning: This will be just another praising review but you should read it anyway because you want to support your favourite prehistoric enthusiasts (and me).
With a healthy mix of tunes from the initial EP Back from the Dead and their recent debut album In a Million Years , the boys from Queensland graced our stage with confidence that commanded devout attention, intense moshing and the odd crowd surf. Favourites like ‘ Andy’ and ‘ Weekend’ went off with a bang and Time & Place ’s tribute to Nikola Tesla was met with constant cheering from the crowd. For a song they claimed to have not played live in years, ‘ Alps’ showcased their professionalism and perfect execution.
I was surprised to hear that they were breaking up their set with a cover, but as they launched into Modjo’s ‘Lady’ I could see why. It suited them perfectly. They could have performed a successful set without it but a little bit of the unexpected is always welcome in my books, and they certainly did it well. The venue suited their sound perfectly. Their sweet music reverberated, bouncing off the walls, encased by Northcote Social Club’s compressed atmosphere. Sean gave his lungs a workout to ensure he was heard over the complex walls of sound they fitted us with.
We were asked whether we had bought their album, whether we were having a nice Friday night, and whether we could sing with them. Each crowd interaction was followed by a cheeky smile from guitarist Lachlan and a declaration of love from lead singer Sean. Well, we love you too guys.
They began their wrap up with ‘ Honolulu’ , whose melodic intro was halted by Sean who adorably insisted he had ‘fucked it up’ and wanted to repeat it. They soon had us breaking out into shouts of ‘hey!’ as we grooved to their grunge and pop hooks. ‘ Zoom’ ended the set on a high note with them turning their microphone on us. We screamed - ‘I don’t want to be just anotherm,’ before they launched into one last jumping, drumming, riffing, glorious chanting frenzy – before walking off the stage without encore. Band members could be seen manning the merchandise store and having a chat with their fans afterwards. So. Much. Respect.
REVIEW BY STEF ITALIA .
WORDS BY Stef Italia
Comments
Hells yes! They were incredible.