Calling All Cars, The Cairos, Strangers @ Northcote Social Club, Melbourne (03/06/2011)
Calling All Cars changed their look since I first saw them at Sounds Loud in Moonee Ponds last March, but their music is just as good and getting better with age. I headed over to the Northchote Social Club to catch them touring their latest single ‘Reptile’ with Strangers from Sydney and Brisbane’s The Cairos as supports.
I rocked up just before the fresh new five piece band from Sydney Strangers began their set to find a hum of chatter in the band room of the Social Club, and enough people expectantly waiting, so I had to weave my way through to find a good spot. They played to a small crowd but with a good number of people milling around the front, which at the Northcote Social Club is always a good sign (most times I’ve been there people hang around near the sound desk and bar till the main act). Their heavy rock sound was a great opener for Calling All Cars, and really set the scene for what was to be a kicker of a night. My two picks from their set were Stitches and Red Brick. Keep an eye out for these new kids on the block; they are definitely ones to follow.
Next up were The Cairos who almost didn’t look old enough to be allowed into the pub. But don’t let that put you off. These lads have been together since ’08 and have some impressive support slots under their belt having previously played with Powderfinger, The Temper Trap, You Am I, just to name a few. They even had a small posse of fans in their t-shirts, which is quite a compliment if you’re just the support act! The Cairoshad a quite different, more ambient feel compared to Strangers. Despite their young age they already have a great sound. Two standout songs in their set were Nothing at All and Seven the latter of which changes from reflective verses to more rock in the choruses, which at first took me by surprise, but is very cool. They have recently recorded and EP called Summer Catalogue and have upcoming shows at the Palace in Melbourne on the 25th of June, and at X & Y in Brisvegas on the 9th of July. Check them out if you get the chance.
The stage was finally set for the main act, Calling All Cars. People had begun to secure spots in the front row and the crowd was filling the entire band room. This was the most packed I've seen the Northcote- these boys surely know how to draw a crowd. The entirety of which sang along to the first two songs Disconnect and Run Away which are also the first two songs of their debut album Hold, Hold Fire.
Vocalist and guitarist Hadyn Ing and bassist Adam Montgomery have a really great showmanship, great interaction on stage and really know how to work a crowd, often standing up on the speakers, or singing right at someone in the front row. Haydn often revved us up to start a clap, standing on the speakers clapping his hands over his head. The guys in front of Haydn had already formed a mini circle pit half way through Little Red Hands, and broke out into a mosh during She’s Delirious. Animal was another crowd favourite, with the posse of fans in front of Haydn signing along for the entire song. James Ing was absolutely tearing his kit to shreds during No Sleep, and Adam having a true rockstar moment during Good Intentions breaking a strap of his bass and keeping on playing with the sound tech taping it back on with gaffer.
As Calling All Carsdrew closer to the end of their set, out came more that the crowd was familiar with: the title track of Hold, Hold Fire saw the whole crowd singing along to the chorus. And who can go past Not Like Anybody? Adam turned his microphone around to the crowd as they sang along. They closed the night with their newest single Reptile, which was well received.
In true CAC style, there was no encore but all the boys thanked the crowd for coming, and invited them to head over to the merch desk where they soon appeared. All in all a great night, I highly recommend you go along to see them on their upcoming tour, and book early because these shows will sell out!
Jillian McEwan
I rocked up just before the fresh new five piece band from Sydney Strangers began their set to find a hum of chatter in the band room of the Social Club, and enough people expectantly waiting, so I had to weave my way through to find a good spot. They played to a small crowd but with a good number of people milling around the front, which at the Northcote Social Club is always a good sign (most times I’ve been there people hang around near the sound desk and bar till the main act). Their heavy rock sound was a great opener for Calling All Cars, and really set the scene for what was to be a kicker of a night. My two picks from their set were Stitches and Red Brick. Keep an eye out for these new kids on the block; they are definitely ones to follow.
Next up were The Cairos who almost didn’t look old enough to be allowed into the pub. But don’t let that put you off. These lads have been together since ’08 and have some impressive support slots under their belt having previously played with Powderfinger, The Temper Trap, You Am I, just to name a few. They even had a small posse of fans in their t-shirts, which is quite a compliment if you’re just the support act! The Cairoshad a quite different, more ambient feel compared to Strangers. Despite their young age they already have a great sound. Two standout songs in their set were Nothing at All and Seven the latter of which changes from reflective verses to more rock in the choruses, which at first took me by surprise, but is very cool. They have recently recorded and EP called Summer Catalogue and have upcoming shows at the Palace in Melbourne on the 25th of June, and at X & Y in Brisvegas on the 9th of July. Check them out if you get the chance.
The stage was finally set for the main act, Calling All Cars. People had begun to secure spots in the front row and the crowd was filling the entire band room. This was the most packed I've seen the Northcote- these boys surely know how to draw a crowd. The entirety of which sang along to the first two songs Disconnect and Run Away which are also the first two songs of their debut album Hold, Hold Fire.
Vocalist and guitarist Hadyn Ing and bassist Adam Montgomery have a really great showmanship, great interaction on stage and really know how to work a crowd, often standing up on the speakers, or singing right at someone in the front row. Haydn often revved us up to start a clap, standing on the speakers clapping his hands over his head. The guys in front of Haydn had already formed a mini circle pit half way through Little Red Hands, and broke out into a mosh during She’s Delirious. Animal was another crowd favourite, with the posse of fans in front of Haydn signing along for the entire song. James Ing was absolutely tearing his kit to shreds during No Sleep, and Adam having a true rockstar moment during Good Intentions breaking a strap of his bass and keeping on playing with the sound tech taping it back on with gaffer.
As Calling All Carsdrew closer to the end of their set, out came more that the crowd was familiar with: the title track of Hold, Hold Fire saw the whole crowd singing along to the chorus. And who can go past Not Like Anybody? Adam turned his microphone around to the crowd as they sang along. They closed the night with their newest single Reptile, which was well received.
In true CAC style, there was no encore but all the boys thanked the crowd for coming, and invited them to head over to the merch desk where they soon appeared. All in all a great night, I highly recommend you go along to see them on their upcoming tour, and book early because these shows will sell out!
Jillian McEwan