Usually, when a release by a band is labelled as an "excuse to tour", it's meant in the most derogatory way possible - as if the band put no effort into its creation and distribution whatseover. There is an exception to this rule, however. New Zealand trio Die! Die! Die! can have all the excuses to tour as they want. New single? New video? New album on the way? That'll do us just fine, now let's get you boys in the van! In case you hadn't picked up, Die! Die! Die! do the whole live thing exceptionally well. Kicking off their Oppressors tour at Wollongong's new live music hub, The Harp Hotel, the band displayed once again why they are a must-see in an intimate, sweaty and often quite intense environment.

The set-times taped to the wall near the mixing desk informed us that tonight's show would be opened by a Wollongong band named Kitten Death. Andrew Catman, the frontman of the band, however, introduced us to The Doll Boys (or perhaps it was Dull Boys?). Kitten Death had just gotten a new line-up and a new name; and we were some of the first to experience this new group beyond their garages. It was an exciting prospect, delivered upon by a short but intriguing set of songs. Stylistically, their sound ranged from heavy post-rock instrumentals that recalled acts like This Will Destroy You to a progressively-oriented power trio sound that has recently been favoured by bands such as Tame Impala. Despite occasionally fumbling the ball in terms of keeping up with one another, the three musicians were evidently enjoying themselves during their set - albeit a tad nervous about the whole thing. Give it time, boys. Here's hoping Wollongong hears more out of this lot soon.

The onstage presence doubled shortly after, as Ballarat sextet Howl began setting up. The band might look like your everyday hipsters, but they're quickly establishing themselves as one of the hottest live bands on the Australian circuit .. and not only should you buy into the hype, you should make a long-term investment.

With dual vocalists (Michael Belsar and Lachlan Morrish) that swap between lead vocal and rhythm guitar duties, the band also employs the maverick concept of two bass guitars for a number of songs (guitarist Tim Street strapping on the second bass) that adds a grungy Daydream Nation-esque sound to the fast-paced instrumentation. It was these theoretically minor aspects of their overall sound that ultimately developed into major-level enjoyment for those of us that had begun to gather near the front of the Harp's small stage.

For the latter part of their frenetic performance, half the band spent most of their time staggering about on the sticky floor, tumbling into punters who would primitively shove them right back. It might seem slightly barbaric, but it's this kind of interaction that drew more and more people towards the band, who have only a self-titled EP to their name. Practically everything off said EP was given a run-through, as well as a surprisingly edgy and bizarrely accurate cover of Justin Timberlake's "SexyBack". The latter in particular brought a stupid grin to even the most stone-faced hipsters, as they ripped through every last bit of the song's detail from the call-and-response chorus to the song's "Are you ready?" sample (recreated in hilariously high voices). Ballarat certainly might not seem like party central, but if an act like Howl can evolve out of it then basically anything is possible. Having just been announced as the support on Cassette Kids' national tour, the six gents can only move from strength to strength from here - and they need all the muscle they can get on those waif-like bodies of theirs.

"Hi! We're Die! Die! Die!" pants Andrew Wilson as the Kiwi trio set up in record time (they were given thirty minutes changeover and were ready in fifteen). "Come up the front and let's have some fun!" As they ripped straight into "Ashtray! Ashtray!" from their debut self-titled EP of 2005, it was time to celebrate: the tour had begun and we were fortunate enough to kick the whole thing off.

The next fifty minutes or so saw songs fly past at a ridiculously fast pace, with the band giving their discography a vigorous workout in front of a now packed Harp.  As Michael Prain belted out the splashy, insurgent rhythms and lanky bassist Lachlan Anderson let the basslines thunder out - often from atop his amp - it was Wilson who was the evening's MVP. Most who have seen D!D!D! before will be aware of his Jekyll-and-Hyde stage presence, which is entirely on where his battered guitar is. If it's strapped to him, he's amidst a freak-out jam on tracks like the bouncy "Blue Skies", which was extended out and brought into several explosive crescendos. If it's leaning against his amp, however, he'll be somewhere in the crowd, prowling towards the bar as he screams the lyrics - occasionally getting a bit of help from a keen punter or two. The ferocious "A.T.T.I.T.U.D." from the Promises, Promises LP was an outstanding example of the latter, with Wilson going so hard that his microphone simply refused to keep up with his madness, dying out before the first verse had even started. You know you're putting on a good show when even the members of a group like Howl are watching on with eyes bugged out in what could only be 75% admiration and 25% fear for themselves, the band and everyone else within a 50-metre radius.

The band's all-too-brief set finished with a rendition of the aforementioned "excuse to tour" - the incredibly promising "We Built Our Own Oppressors" from their forthcoming, still-untitled new album. The front row steamed up as Wilson flailed about to the song's off-kilter beats, screeching and writhing about the floor before returning to his guitar. It took all but a minute onstage with it until he grabbed both his microphone and guitar and dove headfirst into the audience with them, roaring out the song's finale. As the rhythm section dropped their instruments (literally), Andrew picked up his guitar, flung it back onto the stage in one final fit of rage and thanked the crowd for watching. As always, it was our pleasure - Die! Die! Die! could play anywhere to anyone at any time and it would be welcomed with open arms and nimble dancing shoes.

This might have been D!D!D!'s first trip to the 'Gong, but with any luck it certainly won't be their last. See you when the next excuse drops, gentlemen.