The Living End @ The Corner Hotel, Melbourne (12-17/12/2012)
Photo by Rebecca Houlden
Announced earlier this year on Triple J, The Living End’s Retrospective Tour has been a massive feat. Touring around five capital cities over two months and playing thirty nine shows nobody can deny their title of one of Australia’s hardest working live acts. Expectations were high for their home town of Melbourne, the last city of the tour.
Playing through a different album every night to a sold out crowd was an amazing spectacle. With a different support act every night, each as enjoyable as the last, it was easy enough to keep coming back for more. Highlights include Something For Kate and Area 7 who managed to squeeze nine people onto The Corner’s small stage.
DJ Cosmic Dolphin (Johnny from Children Collide) filled in time between sets, keeping the inebriated crowd happy and predictably ending his second set of the night with Bohemian Rhapsody, a song which never failed to be a crowd pleaser. It soon became a signal for everyone to squeeze in closer and to watch the screens for the countdown. After the countdown a video would play recapping the events that happened around the time of each album release. They then went on to talk about each album and every video finished by thanking the fans. You really got the sense that that was what this tour was all about.
Finally, when The Living End graced the stage they had the audience in the palm of their hands. Each album was delivered flawlessly and with the same amount of care and attention. Even though some albums have been more successful than others both the band and their fans treated each album with respect and great enthusiasm.
Putting in a good solid hour every night, whether you only attended one night or every night you were never left short changed. The band filled in time with playful banter, jams and covers and, on the night of Roll On, a marriage proposal between two audience members that had been pulled up on stage. The most hilarious cover of the week was Hot Potato which saw people moshing and even crowd surfing. Tainted Love was also a highlight even though it was cut short.
Overall, it was an amazing experience. Opportunities like these are rare and incredibly rewarding for both the band and fans alike. With very little signs of fatigue and continuing support of crew during the show The Living End’s delivery was perfect. Their songs sounded close enough to studio perfect for you to believe in the band’s ability but were also changed up enough for you to know that it wasn’t a fluke either. After all this time I wouldn’t expect any less.
Natalia Baranowski
Playing through a different album every night to a sold out crowd was an amazing spectacle. With a different support act every night, each as enjoyable as the last, it was easy enough to keep coming back for more. Highlights include Something For Kate and Area 7 who managed to squeeze nine people onto The Corner’s small stage.
DJ Cosmic Dolphin (Johnny from Children Collide) filled in time between sets, keeping the inebriated crowd happy and predictably ending his second set of the night with Bohemian Rhapsody, a song which never failed to be a crowd pleaser. It soon became a signal for everyone to squeeze in closer and to watch the screens for the countdown. After the countdown a video would play recapping the events that happened around the time of each album release. They then went on to talk about each album and every video finished by thanking the fans. You really got the sense that that was what this tour was all about.
Finally, when The Living End graced the stage they had the audience in the palm of their hands. Each album was delivered flawlessly and with the same amount of care and attention. Even though some albums have been more successful than others both the band and their fans treated each album with respect and great enthusiasm.
Putting in a good solid hour every night, whether you only attended one night or every night you were never left short changed. The band filled in time with playful banter, jams and covers and, on the night of Roll On, a marriage proposal between two audience members that had been pulled up on stage. The most hilarious cover of the week was Hot Potato which saw people moshing and even crowd surfing. Tainted Love was also a highlight even though it was cut short.
Overall, it was an amazing experience. Opportunities like these are rare and incredibly rewarding for both the band and fans alike. With very little signs of fatigue and continuing support of crew during the show The Living End’s delivery was perfect. Their songs sounded close enough to studio perfect for you to believe in the band’s ability but were also changed up enough for you to know that it wasn’t a fluke either. After all this time I wouldn’t expect any less.
Natalia Baranowski