The Jungle Giants at the Metro Theatre 12/10/13 - Live Review
- genevavalek
- Oct 11, 2013
- 3 min read
The Jungle Giants are the next in a seemingly never-ending line of young groovy indie rock groups to emerge out of Brisbane recently. And, just like the majority of these bands, they know how to put on a darn good show. On Saturday the 12th of October, nestled in the sweaty pits of Sydney’s Metro Theatre, the energetic foursome showcased the very best from their debut album on their Learn To Exist Tour.
Supporting honours fell to fellow Brisbanians The Creases. Hot in anticipation of the release of their first official single ‘I Won’t Wait’ (due out next month via Rough Trade Records), band members Joe and Jarrod accompanied by live supports Aimon and Bridie displayed impressive sun-kissed rock through a set littered with hazy strums and dreamy backing vocals. Described by NME as ‘like Radio Dept with a Strokes sheen’, the group even gave some handy advice about the ups and downs of the infamous Friendzone in an impressive live show which labels The Creases as a group to watch in the future.
‘Have any of you seen Northeast Party House before?’ called out The Creases frontman Joe Agius midway through their set. ‘They’re the sickest. I mean, I know Kerser is the sickest, but these guys are sicker… Don’t tell Kerser I said that. He’d probably kill me.’
To fully understand Northeast Party House, we might need to check the whereabouts of Bloc Party frontman Kele Okereke, or at least check where his songwriting book has got to. Bursting with energy and heavy bass lines, the Melbourne six-piece managed to make the sold-out crowd jump like few support acts are capable of doing. The obvious not-giving-a-shit attitude emitted from their music is delightfully adapted into their stage presence, with vocalist Zach Hamilton-Reeves getting the crowd bouncing with huge choruses and smashing drumbeats. I’m not sure what they’re Northeast of, but they can sure make the House Party.
Triumphantly gracing the stage amidst deafening roars of Sydney’s most dedicated young adults, The Jungle Giants set about working their poptastic magic on their audience. The shrill cries of ‘It’s alright, it’s okay / I didn’t need my sanity anyway,’ from album opener ‘Come And Be Alone With Me’ initiated the set, before making way for long time fan-favourite ‘Mr Polite’ to make sure that everyone’s eyes were glued to the stage.
Obviously keen to be back on the road after the arduous album recording process, the band were bursting with energy which gave their songs an extra kick on top of their already-frenetic pace. With heaps of experience under their belt including support slots for Boy and Bear, Ball Park Music, San Cisco, Last Dinosaursand Two Door Cinema Club, their surprising sense of musical maturity shone through their adorable act of hilarious playfulness.
A real highlight of their absorbing debut album was the impressive adaption of different genres in their songs. Although it sometimes led to a lack of cohesion in their album, it was a breath of fresh air in their live show, with heavier songs such as ‘Pair of Lovers’ contrasting beautifully with more delicate ones such as a revamped version of album closer ‘Home’.
Bodies were gleaming with sweat and faces glowing with smiles after The Jungle Giants concluded their set with crowd favourite ‘She’s A Riot’, including a reunion of all three bands together on stage for some good old crowd-surfing madness. They may only be Learning To Exist, but by this performance, their existence is pretty damn great.
Photos by Geneva Valek more here
Review by Ruben Seaton
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