Live Review: The Maccabees - The Hi-Fi

There's a lot to be said about a polite and well-mannered crowd at a rock gig. It can often mean the difference between having a shit-hot night and a shit night. On a school night at the Hi-Fi, the crowd is an especially well-mannered one, with a distinct lack of “elbowing” and punters making way for one another, and so one could say a good karmic vibe pervades the confines of the room, with fans huddled closely towards the front of the stage; the positive atmosphere is a prediction of the night that unfolds.

Local guitar fiends Them Swoops manage to prime the throng with their frenetic, guitar-based pop, ending their set with the upbeat Work Around It. Their infectious ditties and energetic live performance make them an act to look out for.

Since their inception in 2004, and three album releases on, it's The Maccabees first-ever time to Australia and their loyal fans are eager with anticipation. Vocalist/guitarist Orlando Weeks and his cohorts launch into the haunting and evocative Child off latest critically acclaimed release Given To The Wild, showcasing their guitar-laden soundscapes and Weeks' moving falsetto vocals. Weeks is flanked by brothers Hugo and Felix White on guitar and backing vocals, bassist Rupert Jarvis, drummer Sam Doyle, and Will White on keys. The opener reaches a crescendo of frenetic, mind-blowing drumming, nimble guitar licks and some soaring vocals, setting the bar high for the remainder of the set. This is followed by new song Feel To Follow. Their set draws material from all three albums but it's Pelican off their latest album and Precious Time off first album Colour It In (played during the encore) that incites the loudest crowd response.

Painfully shy, Weeks addresses the crowd stating it's their first-ever time in Australia amidst loud cheers from the punters, but much of his between-song banter is quiet and indecipherable. In contrast, guitarist Hugo White has the rock posturing, hair flailing about moves down pat, wearing his sensuality on his sleeve while Weeks keeps his in check. Apart from their musical prowess, it's the stark contrast between these two rock personas that make these British indie darlings so interesting to watch. Tonight The Maccabees show Melbourne why the critics are creaming themselves. Let's hope they don't take another eight years to return our shores.