DZ Deathrays @ Metro Theatre 18/10/19
DZ Deathrays highly anticipated Positive Rising: Part 1 tour kicked off in Sydney last Friday. Performing an all-ages show at the Metro Theatre, Australia’s premier rock band was accompanied by non-other than Sydney’s own Polish Club, fellow Brisbane punk band VOIID and Newtown grassroots act The Buoys. As the first show in the Positive Rising: Part 1 Tour, the Metro was shoulder to shoulder packed. However, as one of Sydney’s best music venues, the sheer volume of bodies was never a hassle, with the amphitheatre style sections ensuring everyone had a full view of the acts.
The supporting acts were a delicately curated line-up of full throttle rock and roll. The Buoys overcame the difficulty of opening to a very anxious crowd with their easy to listen to style of pub rock. The grouchy guitars and punky lyrics were surprisingly well suited to this larger theatre venue. VOIID were up next with their heavier sound, which is straight from the Brisbane punk scene that birthed DZ Deathrays. With more people arriving, they raised the energy to kick start the moshing. It was so energetic that they put a fire underneath the audience’s feet that wouldn’t be extinguished for several hours. Both The Buoys and VOIID were restricted by time. While this was unfortunate, it left time for the next act.
Having covered Polish Club’s Sydney concerts twice within the past twelve months, there is nothing new that can be said about this performance. With the previous acts having such short sets, Polish Club were given enough time to never feel like just a supporting act. Their upbeat, fun rock sound was universally enjoyed by a crowd that came to experience the heavy punk and metal show of DZ Deathrays. Unlike their last Sydney shows, Polish Club weren’t promoting their latest album Iguana, which gave them the freedom to include songs from their entire discography. This includes old school hits from “Gimme Money” and “Come Party” to newer tracks like “Iguana” and the fantastic “Clarity”.
Staying true to form, the playful banter between the three band members became added entertainment value. This included a hilarious rock cover of Candi Staton’s 1976 hit “Young Hearts Run Free”. They would jump around, crack jokes, take a few cheeky shots on stage and generally have a fun time while performing, which translates to and resonates with the audience. For example, after playing half an hour with a cake, and lit candles, on his frum kit, birthday boy John proceeded to pitch the pastry at bassist Blade, who used his instrument to hit it for six.
After a brief intermission to switch between bands, the DZ Deathrays took to the stage, cloaked in shadow and darkness. A thin veil of smoke masked the band as beams of lights darted through the air to create a moody atmosphere. Beginning softly, the gentle ambience of Positive Rising: Part 1’s opening track, “Hi Everyone”, boomed out to the audience, reverberating deep with the Metro’s stellar sound system. As each band member ramped things up, and the subtle blue and white lights revealed the DZ Deathrays in all their suited glory, the sound built into a vicious wall, physically imposing itself over the helpless audience. The audio at the Metro was clean, allowing the audience to hear each instrument and vocal line clearly, but it also had a sizable amount of dirt and crunch to give the performance its distinct character. As a result, the audience got the full range of DZ Deathrays’ eclectic punk, dance, metal and indie rock fusion sound.
The set was huge, lasting nearly two hours without interruption. It is a testimony to both their talent as performance and the dedication of their fan base that the concert remained energetic the entire time. This can be attributed to DZ Deathrays’ excellent pacing and song selection. By balancing songs from the new album with songs from the more popular Bloody Lovely album of 2018, slow downbeat ballads with heavy rock romps, and sleeper hits with well known tracks, DZ Deathrays had complete control of the crowd. At the heights of the set, which includes tracks like “IN-TO-IT”, “Like People”, “Gina Works at Hearts” and the song of the night “Year of the Dog”, the giants walls of lights would flash in time with the thunderous drums as the guitar’s distortion and singer Shane’s banshee like screams would send the crowd into a frenzy. In softer moments, which is really a relative term in this case, rich colours of red and blue lights would wash over the audience, settling them down into just headbanging. These include tracks like ‘Hypercolour’ ‘Afterglow’ and ‘Still No Change’.
For such a wild concert, there was a perfect balance between aggressive punk fun and responsible management of health. The security and bar staff did a great job at managing intoxication, while the crowd effectively self-governed itself. The mosh would often turn into a gladiator’s pit, with a large circle forming in the centre for people to ram each other like bulls, but nothing ever went too far and it was all done in good spirit. If someone fell or got hurt, everyone would stop immediately to make sure they were alright. Moments like this serve as a great example of how DZ Deathrays’ fans and the punk community in general are able to partake in their aggressive behaviour both safely and responsibly.
The Metro Theatre show was only the first stop on a tour across the country. Be sure to check DZ Deathrays out while you still can.
Friday, 25th October
The Forum, Melbourne (18+)
Tickets: Ticketmaster
Saturday, 26th October
The Evelyn, Melbourne (U18**)
Tickets: Oztix
Friday, 1st November
HQ, Adelaide (AA)
Tickets: Moshtix
Saturday, 2nd November
Astor Theatre, Perth (AA)
Tickets: Ticketek
Friday, 8th November
The Tivoli, Brisbane (18+)
Tickets: Ticketmaster
Saturday, 9th November*
The Zoo, Brisbane (U18**)
Tickets: Oztix
