Melbourne indie rockers Kingswood were given the opportunity to support Grinspoon at The Hi-Fi Bar and took it with both hands. The band put on an incredible performance that had the early birds in the crowd rocking their heads about.
The Melbourne boys opened their set with the breakthrough (and very catchy) single ‘She’s My Baby’ and the crowd lapped it up and wanted more.
‘Yeah Go Die’ was another standout song, with its Queens Of The Stone Age-style sound. The band is full of talented musicians and it was great to see a rock bass player, in this case Jeremy Hunter, take his instrument for a walk.
Lead singer Fergus Linacre has a sensational voice with plenty of range which allows the band to vary its song choices and styles while the energy of guitarist Alex Laska was infectious for both crowd and band.
Seeing Laksa improvise using an empty stubbie as a guitar slide when his went missing was both a highlight and a laugh. Grinspoon fans were blown away by Kingswood and they’ve great potential to make their mark on the Aussie rock scene. So outstanding that if the gig ended then and there, most people would have left feeling extremely satisfied. Kingswood is simply the real deal.
Once Grinspoon hit the stage, it was clear they meant business. They opened with two of their oldest and most loved songs ‘Black Friday’ and ‘DCx3’ and the crowd erupted in roars and cheers.
The band followed that awesome beginning with their latest single ‘Branded’; which is – unfortunately – arguably the worst song the boys have ever put together. The fans still enjoyed it, probably due to the excitement from the energy of the openers. It was a relief that they got it out the way early though, rather than waiting through the whole set for the one bad rendition.
The quartet tore through their back catalogue of hits, including the kick arse older tracks ‘Ready 1’ and ‘Champion’; as well as the more recent rock tracks ‘Hard Act to Follow’ and ‘No Reason’.
As always, ‘Chemical Heart’ had everyone singing along and it’s clear the song has not lost any of its impact since its release. Unfortunately, ‘More Than You Are’, one of their best songs and an absolute crowd favourite, was sorely absent.
The band’s stage presence was exciting and varied with Pat Davern’s relaxed manner on guitar and Joe Hansen’s constant head rocking and movement. Phil Jamieson’s dance moves and demeanour were reminiscent of Peter Allen and amused everyone watching with his colourful and playful antics.
Returning for a single encore, ‘Lost Control’ had everyone singing their lungs out and thrashing around. The band thanked the crowd and walked off the stage to a massive applause and cheer from their grateful fans.
Ultimately, it was an incredible night of great live Aussie rock. Ever the seasoned pros, Grinspoon delivered a high energy and sweat inducing performance. The fans were delighted with the set and a little hoarse from all the singing.
The show was exactly what you would expect from a band of their standing. However, it was Kingswood who stole the show with their catchy riffs and choruses, and friendly stage presence and banter. These guys are truly awesome live and will be looking to conquer the local rock scene in the next year or two.
