Live To Rock: Part I

Last night, we were treated to two blistering sets from two absolutely brilliant live bands, with quite different styles. Looking around the room last night (packed as it was), the most important thing that Airbourne and Dallas Crane have in common is their ease at putting a broad grin on every single punter’s face. I’m positive that if you showed up at the Prince of Wales last night in a foul mood, that would have quickly evaporated thanks to these very hard-working fellas.

Airbourne’s support slot was unlike any other I’ve seen, and the four big-haired boys from Warrnambool had the entire crowd – from their many loyal fans (with Live To Rock emblazoned on the back of the band’s T-shirts), to the as yet unitiated punters – eating out of their hands. With a sound that’s reminiscent of AC/DC, and a light show that’s probably better suited to a stadium, Airbourne were compelling from the minute they took to the stage. The band’s charismatic singer and guitarist, Joel O’Keeffe, with his straggly curly hair, black Nike wrist sweatbands, tight black jeans and sans shirt, is a commanding presence. I’d love to hear him interviewed partly because I’d love to hear what his normal voice sounds like. Each number last night was punctuated by his snarling growl (again, reminding me a bit of AC/DC’s Brian Johnson) either introducing the next song or proclaiming stuff in the style of an evangelist, such as gems like, “Melbourne IS rock n’ roll!” or “As long as you’re alive, and we’re alive, rock n’ roll will never die!”


Watching Airbourne makes you feel as if you’re in an ‘80s video clip, with the boys co-ordinating their headbanging, whilst somehow managing to swing their guitars around in unison, and amazingly never missing a single note. I really wish I’d taken my camera, if only to capture one enraptured fan crowd-surfing, while playing air guitar. Joel reminded me at times of Tim Rogers, with his arm-swinging style of playing guitar, drenched in sweat and shaking his hair around like a shaggy dog shaking himself off after a bath. The most staggering part of the night was when he leaped into the packed crowd – with wireless electric guitar in hand – and made his way over to the bar (while continuing to play!), where he climbed up, toasted the crowd, had a drink and made his way back onstage. Needless to say, the amorous crowd parted like the Red Sea to let him get through. At the end of their final song, Joel finished off the pounding set by grabbing one of the lights hanging above the stage and shining it around, onto the crowd.

It occurred to me that since the likes of AC/DC, playing this particular brand of pub rock (in the most pure sense of the term) has become a dying art in this country (and no, I don’t think Wolfmother counts). All I can say is that if you ever get a chance to see these guys, regardless of your taste in music, do yourself a favour and check them out. You don’t have to be a straggly-haired headbanger to appreciate that they love to please the crowd, and love the type of pure rawk they create.