The Messengers launched their self-titled debut EP in style, helped along the way by some of Melbourne’s finest talents and a packed and enthusiastic Ding Dong Lounge crowd.
The quintet de Fremery, originally hailing from Albury and now calling Melbourne home, delivered a set of breezy, upbeat indie rock to an already well occupied room.
Displaying songs from a forthcoming EP, William van der Vliet’s soaring vocals shone on songs such as the wonderful ‘Keep It Right’.
Local Melbourne four-piece Towers took to the stage next, playing a majority of new songs, as well as a handful of tracks from their EP released last year.
Triple J-approved ‘Friend O’ Mine’ introduced the band’s sound perfectly, while the very animated (and slightly intoxicated) frontman Liam Parsons persevered through a scratched eyebrow and bloody finger. ‘That’s Enough’, featuring some added screamed vocals from Parsons, brought the set to a close, in front of a now bustling Ding Dong room.
The Messengers are an impressively polished and slick live band, one that plays with undeniable passion and enthusiasm. This was on clear display throughout the hour-long set that successfully launched their EP (to be released next week).
The five members were assisted by two back-up singers, adding an extra layer to the band’s already irrepressible sing-alongs, and ensured the band remained very cosy on the small stage.
‘Whiskey And Wine’, from the forthcoming EP, displayed the band’s effortlessly catchy songwriting from the very beginning, incorporating some of the best elements from both Brit Pop and blues-garage rock alike.
The band are at their best with the old-school charm of seven people on stage adding vocals to the mix, be it in a call and response or an uplifting chorus. Even the slower, more piano-based tracks develop into upbeat and irresistible sing-alongs.
Lead vocal duties were shared across the night between keyboardist Dima Kran, guitarists Keiran Daly and Adnan Kadric, and drummer Jono Reisacher, with bassist Joe Daly providing the driving and pounding backing to every track.
Second single ‘We Can’t Get Along’ ensured there wasn’t an inanimate body in the tightly packed and rapturous crowd, while newest single ‘Song For Courtney’ typified the band’s sound, and was met with a huge reaction from the adoring masses.
The Messengers brought the night to a close with two covers, firstly The Beatles’ ‘She Came In Through The Bathroom Window’, and finally the aptly titled “I’ve Gotta Go Now”. This, however, wasn’t a sentiment shared by the loud and enthusiastic crowd, with an overwhelming chant of “one more song” roaring across the room at the band’s departure. The pleas were met by Reisacher, who returned to the stage to announce, “we don’t actually have any more songs to play”.
As good as the upcoming EP will inevitably be, The Messengers are a band that needs to be experienced live, and this was perfectly displayed with the launch show at Ding Dong that nobody wanted to finish.
