Live Review: Grinspoon

A massive line along Murray Street greeted us as we arrived at Capitol: a venue that has the ability to provide a great live experience, perfect for some vintage Grinners. With a colossal sound system, this was a good choice for a triple treat of a rock show.

Local heavy hitters Emperors played a solid set to open proceedings, while Melbourne's Kingswood followed and prescribed a well-received dose of indie rock. Yeah Go Die, She's My Baby and Medusa all got an airing, as the room quickly filled to capacity.

There's something undeniably Aussie about veterans Grinspoon: boozy, ballsy and with a rock hard temperament, the quartet launched a career on the back of their triple j Unearthed success in 1995. They are some of the hardest working musicians in the land. From undeniably fruitful beginnings aided by their catchy drop-D licks, their simple yet heavy drive has always been their strongest asset and they delivered it in spades at this show. Massive cheers greeted the band as frontman Phil Jamieson stood atop a foldback, arms in the air and drink in hand, saluting the sold out room. Launching straight into Black Friday, it was clear the 'Spoon were here to play as they littered the set with old favourites, including Champion, the brutal Post Enebriated Anxiety, Freezer and the anthemic More Than You Are.

As the rich distortion of Pat Davern's guitar rang out the opening chords of DCX3, this reviewer was reminded why it wasn't 1995 anymore. Having ordered a pair of frothies to appease our increasingly dry mouths, just two pieces of silver were returned from a $20 note. As limbs flew and beer spilt up front, Chemical Heart and Ready 1 struck a chord with the swirling pit, the punters lapping up each and every track. A surprise acoustic version of Just Ace (complete with harmonica) late in the piece was a rare treat.

With chants of “Grinspoon! Grinspoon!” filling the room, the band returned for an encore playing Lost Control off their third studio album, New Detention. It was a good move on this occasion to play a nostalgic set and skip some of the less well-received numbers from their catalogue. Having left disappointed after seeing their sloppy set at Byron Bay's Splendour In The Grass in 2009, tonight was different. On song for every song, our lads from Lismore put on one hell of a rock show. Champions!