Violent Soho
Laneway Festival, Melbourne
Sunday February 24, 2008 with 0 Mess+Noise champion in attendance.
“Violent Soho” sounds like an old British crime exposé movie - you know the sort of thing, a searing expose of London’s ruthless coffee shop gangland, featuring lots of fog and a young Joan Collins as the local moll with a heart of gold, all in glorious black and white.
The four Brisbane lads take the Lounge stage with confidence, the later timeslot and enclosed surroundings work to their benefit. They’ve been waiting all day for this, and provide a much needed dose of up close energy to round off proceedings. It’s a raucous and delirious burst of noise, peeled off with flair. Frontman Luke Boerdam lets loose and attacks every song like the plug’s about to be pulled on the PA.
'Bombs Over Broadway' is a massive slab of fury and guitar. 'Muscle Junkie' works off a classic fast/slow template, and their inclusion of GOD’s 'My Pal' late in the set gives things an odd edge - it’s been decades since I heard that played live, and it’s played well, too. It’s an unexpected pleasure, and caps them as the best thing all day.
by Trevor Block
