Live Review: The Delta Riggs, Pinkish Blu

The Delta Riggs once again demonstrated why they are one of the most entertaining and polished live acts in Australia in a show to a smallish crowd at Fat Controller on Thursday night. Perhaps in part due to a very competitive Thursday night with rising punk stars Trophy Eyes packing out The Gov, the crowd was somewhat modest at Fat Controller – a venue they have completely packed out in the past. It’s a little unfortunate, given the calibre of the act, but something that also could be explained by the lack of local media coverage of the event. It’s something that Adelaide needs to address over time, but something for another conversation.

The understated Pinkish Blue was an interesting support for Delta Riggs in terms of the completely different energy and vibe. On the one hand an act with a low key vibe is a good way to set up a bigger and louder band, but on the other hand, it’s sometimes ideal for a high energy support to amp up the crowd before the main act. With a quietly brooding and inoffensive style of indie-rock, Pinkish Blue had a likeable yet unspectacular set. There's a sort of '80s shoegaze vibe about their aesthetic, but the sound also has some softer '90s alt-rock elements. You could see them playing background music at The Peach Pit in Beverly Hills, 90210 after the camera slowly transitions away from the dialogue at the end. 

As expected The Delta Riggs began their show with great swagger as singer Elliott Hammond pranced around the stage like Australia’s answer to a modern day Jagger. Thick bass from Michael Tramonte and hard hitting drums backed up the buzzy guitar chords and Hammond’s vocals, which as always were very much on point. The usual crowd banter between Hammond and Tramonte again showcased how at ease these guys are on stage. 

There was much to love about this show and perhaps with the smaller crowd, things stood out that perhaps wouldn’t have with a bigger audience. Some of the harmonies were really surprising, showcasing another layer to the act. The plucky chords on Never Seen This Before sounded great, as did the chords in Baddest Motherfucker In The Beehive. Another highlight was the use of warped stretchy guitar effects adding another bow to the strings of this very well rounded outfit. In fact, many of the interesting guitar effects really shone through in different parts of the set. Tramonte’s uniquely distorted bass also sounded great in various parts throughout the night.

Tour single Fake That sounded huge live, with a great bass line and melodic guitar arpeggios. The interesting thing about this song, compared to their older material is that the hook is in the big emotive chorus. Speaking of which, finishing off, their bank-ably killer material like Supersonic Casualties was a great way to close out a set which reminded everyone that they're still one of Australia’s most confident and accomplished live acts.