With Melbourne's Bodyjar celebrating 25 years of their record 'No Touch Red', and Perth's Gyroscope notching up 15 for their acclaimed album 'Breed Obsession', it wasn't at all hard to pinpoint the demographic heading out for this capacity Saturday night at The Corner Hotel.
While I personally would have preferred a Gyroscope ending, knowing what a scintillating live band they are, there was no shortage of Bodyjar fans who felt their favourites deserved the top billing.
Long before the double main event, however, cherished late '90s pop-punk veterans Klinger played to a three-quarters full band room, with more than a few super-fans singing back every word to the old tunes.
Pleasingly, alongside the minor triple j hits 'Hello Cruel World' and 'Ben Lee', the band slipped in some new material.
Looking and sounding fresh, and frontman Ben Birchall not afraid to share a laugh at their own expense about some of the angsty schoolboy lyrics they're now singing in their 40s, it'll be good to catch them at an upcoming headline show. Because playing third fiddle to the two bands ahead on the bill diminishes their star just a little.
It's been a while between drinks with catching Gyroscope; travel plans, lockdowns and broken bones have kept me from one of my favourite local acts (not to mention some real top blokes of Australian music).
While they always skirted the grunge and rock side of punk of the 2000s, tonight's set reminded me just how much.
Somehow, besides a new drummer in Sim Dreja, after long-term kit man Rob Nassif's departure in 2019, Gyroscope look like they haven’t aged a day from when they first played songs off this #1 album back in 2008.
Frontman Dan Sanders was in full frontman mode, channelling more than a little Kurt Cobain as the songs were brought to life brilliantly.
While not my favourite Gyroscope album, once again their live show defies their recordings and it was a much-needed reminder of their might. And a cherry on top was Nassif – now a Melbourne resident – sneaking up for a cheeky drum.
If the audience was split between Bodyjar and Gyroscope fans, it was hard to tell; by the time the headliners hit the stage just after 11pm, the room felt as packed as it had been for the last hour or so.
Again, sounding fantastic and bouncing around on stage with the gusto that made my old back ache empathetically, it was a solid punk-rock assault on the senses and the heaving crowd at the front section of the room looked to be in agreement.
Just after midnight, lights came up and a quick exodus of punters, particularly couples, made for the doors – more than a few undoubtedly heading home to relieve the babysitter of their duties. But I have a feeling they'd say this night out was worth it.
