Canadian rock duo, Death From Above 1979 released their debut album, You’re a Woman, I’m a Machine, in 2004 but subsequently broke up in 2006. However, the pair reunited in 2011 and are currently touring the album in Australia. We caught their show at Adelaide’s Governor Hindmarsh Hotel.
The Aussie warmup band DZ Deathrays need no introduction to hard rock music lovers, and hit the stage running. Opening with their smash hit “Gina Works at Hearts” they wasted no time in presenting their powerful blend of loud rock. Lead singer Shane Parsons, guitarist Lachlan Ewbank and drummer Simon Ridley have a solid camaraderie that translates to a solid sound. They played a varied selection of songs from their 15 years together, including “First Night Fever”, “COPS” and “In To It” before finishing with the classic “Shred for Summer”.
After a strip down of the stage, it was reset with four large Orange guitar amps, a serious set of pedals, a massive drum kit on a riser and a keyboard. The two Death From Above 1979 band members, Jesse F. Keeler and Sebastien Grainger strode out on stage and launched straight into “Turn it Out” and “Romantic Rights” from their debut album, which was played in full. The music is loud and aggressive, the lights angry and flashing and all shrouded in a thick haze. The effect is other worldly.
Keeler jumps between bass and keys, while drummer Grainger jumps from his position to sing from the front of stage. The experience becomes an encompassing wall of sound. After the full album is played, they played a second set, with tracks from their other albums , including “Nomad” from Outrage! Is Now and “Trainwreck 1979” from The Physical World.
Encore songs, “Right on Frankenstein” from the same album and “Dead Womb” from Heads Up meant that hot and sweaty crowd filed out of the Gov, exhausted and sated.
The Death from Above 1979 tour continues with Melbourne on April 25th at 170 Russell St then Sydney on April 26th at the Metro before heading back to the USA. Meanwhile, DZ Deathrays are getting ready to take their show on the road in Europe.
