British India

There is something about going out on a night with a name, Monday night in Melbourne was Cup Eve or as I prefer - British India Night! Book-ending their Thieves tour with gigs at The Corner was the great idea of the Melbourne punk rock foursome that served them with a nearly sold out venue.

Rocking out first was young boys again from Melbourne, The Reptiles, though I’ll admit it was hard to pick their exact age as their faces were shrouded with long dark locks. Using their hair and voices to demonstrate their hard rock scratch on the music scene, the Reptiles treated the crowd to a small teaser set complete with trademark screams, bouncy stages acrobatics and predominantly unidentifiable lyrics. Some potential for growth and development, though a little hard to get into straightaway.

Instantly captivating Dead Video took to the stage like fish to water. Conversations ceasing all around the room to dance and attempt a sing along with the boys, it was easy to tell they were a smart choice for warming up a British India audience. My gig buddy was so entertained by their performance she even bought their EP Outside.

With Thieves now a well-loved and oft repeated album, the British India guys didn’t need any little tricks or treats to capture their fans. Smoothly transitioning from song to song with only minor interjections from Declan (Melia) occasionally announcing each song and thanking their support acts.

Sporting attractive lyrics and rhythm, strong vocals from Declan, delicious harmonies and hard base lines from Will (Drummond), kicking beats from Matt (O’Gorman) and awesome guitar shredding from Nic (Wilson) British India have proved themselves to be every bit the live entertainer even as their journey to mainstream strengthens.

Belting out the anthems all night the crowd at The Corner gave their usual response of medium level moshpit gymnastics complete with stage dives and washing machine actions. The comedic display of the night, when a keen fan attempted, a few times, to join the boys on stage by surfing the shoulders of others only to finally reach them as the closed off the song. Declan cheekily remarking that it is usually better when you make on stage DURING the song.

After big numbers like I Said I’m Sorry, Airport Tags, and my personal favourite This Dance is Loaded the night was appropriately wrapped up with an extended This Ain’t No Fucking Disco. I will always have profound respect for a band who don’t give a staged encore and finish up on a note that can’t be topped anyway.

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