The sweaty confines of the charismatic Enigma Bar presented the perfect setting for the shitstorm that was about to ensue at the hands of The Bennies. The psychedelic, drug-inspired rock group were performing their second show back in Australia after a recent tour of Asia, and had their cult following eating out of their hands within seconds.
The three support acts – She’s The Band, Apart From This, and The Hard Aches – had allowed plenty of time for the beers to flow. When the Melbourne bred boys The Bennies hit the stage with the opening track ‘Party Smashers’, it was quite apparent that it was time to smash up the party.
The Bennies don’t strain the audience with convoluted lyrics and deep, profound introductions to songs. Instead, their live show is simple, fun, and gets limbs flailing about to the grungey riffs and catchy choruses.
The moshing started immediately and didn’t languish until the show’s end. The procession of crowd members brief stints on stage, followed by failed attempts at crowd-surfing, was consistent throughout and made for such an enjoyable vibe.
As each song was announced by lead singer Anty Horgan, it was quite apparent that narcotics were the stimulus to the creative process, as songs ‘Ice Cold Beers And Juicy Juicy Buds’, ‘Mushroom Tea’, and ‘Acid On Me Brain’ were hammered out with gusto. The majority of choruses were screamed out acapella by the compliant crowd into the accessible microphone, which was just centimetres away from the front row.
It is quite an experience to see a band play simply for their own enjoyment and yet also establish such a connection and response from their fans. The show eclipsed the commonly desired performance perfection that most other artists strive for.
All in the interest of the fans, they entered the stage only minutes after the last support band finished, and even though the setlist was shorter than most, it proved to be enough, as frontman Horgan tiredly mumbled, “I’m too fucked. Are you fucked? Fuck it, two songs left.”
The entire gig was designed to encourage a good time, and was typified by the statement “we like everyone to leave happy” prior to their closing tune ‘Highrider’. It was far more on the reggae rock end of the scale, and may or may not have endorsed the use of illicit substances (allegedly).
It’s safe to say that The Bennies achieved their goal, as everyone left the venue a happier person than when they came in.
Setlist
Party Smashers
Ice Cold Beers And Juicy Juicy Buds
Mushroom Tea
Sensi Mi
Acid On Me Brain
Knights Forever
My Bike
Highrider
