Mclusky – Gig Review & Photo Gallery 15th January @ Corner Hotel, Melbourne VIC
Mclusky
Corner Hotel, Melbourne VIC
January 15, 2020
Supports: Shepparton Airplane and Bench Press
Mclusky have just finished a tour across Australia, Packing out venues in every city they played. The Three-Piece from Cardiff sold out Melbourne’s Corner Hotel on a wet Wednesday night for the second time after selling out their Saturday night show and adding another, the final show of their Aussie run.
Mclusky have had supports from some of the best bands in the country throughout this run of shows and this final one was no exception. Shepparton Airplane and Bench Press were there to get things started.
Shepparton Airplane opened things up early with a bang. Their fuzzy, guitar driven post-punk tunes warmed the crowd up who had come in from a surprisingly wet afternoon. Kicking off at 7:30 meant that some people, myself included, missed the first couple of songs, but when I got in these guys were tearing it up playing to a growing number of people filling up the band room, channeling bands like The Fall and Wire with a uniquely Australian twist.
Following on were one of my favorite bands playing in Melbourne at the moment, Bench Press. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, see this band! Vocalist Jack Stavrakis paced the stage like a mad man, too caught up in frustration to notice that he is in front of a nearly packed room, which completely fits their tight but somehow chaotic and highly aggressive sound. I’ve seen Bench Press a handful of times, and each time they are better than their last, despite the last time being awesome. This show was no exception.
Finally Mclusky took the stage in a room so full, I feel like that pillar right smack bang in the middle of the corner band room would have started to feel anxious. The Slow opening tune may have fooled a few in the crowd to think that age had slowed these three down, but that thought was quickly quashed when they launched full throttle into the rest of the set. Classics like ‘Lightsaber Cocksucking Blues’ and ‘Alan’s a Cowboy Killer’ had the whole room singing along, word for word. The three piece, post hardcore outfit were super tight 90% of the time but on the 10% they weren’t they made up for it with some fantastic dry Welsh Wit ( I won’t repeat the banter about Eric Clapton, but I thought it was great). The show was Fast, Aggressive, at times funny and loud, it even finished off with an impromptu Limbo competition. What a way to spend a Wednesday night.
That was the last show of Mclusky’s Australian tour, and who knows if they’ll ever be back. They are playing NZ next, so if you missed them here I’d suggest jumping on Webjet or skyscanner or whatever you use and getting to one of those shows.
Gig Review & Photo Gallery by Sean Fabre-Simmonds. Insta: @gravy_havock
Please credit Wall of Sound and Sean Fabre-Simmonds if you use published photos.
Mclusky
