It’s been a while since Melbourne darlings British India have toured, but despite this detail their gig at the Corner Hotel was sold out. When I arrived, after a delayed train and two shots of scotch, the room was slowly filling. Maneuvering to the front of what would inevitable become the mosh pit, I prepared myself for the support, Unbroken Expanse, a charged punk-rock band from Tennant Creek.
The 2010 Golden Heart Band winner were dynamic, riotous and just fucking insane. Guitarist and vocalist Jimmy James broke a sweat screaming Bootstrap Billy into the microphone, at times dipping to more melancholic tones, while their bassist Chris ‘Parko’ Parker jumped about the stage frenziedly. Wheezy – not sure if that’s his real name but he played some kick ass guitar – shredded some sweet notes, while drummer Jason Foran set the paradigm for the set. Unbroken Expanse warmed the crowd with their energy, and by intermission time I was comparing their explosive energy to that of AIR winners DZ Deathrays.
At intermission the venue was nearly packed. A boisterous group of men to my right were absolutely smashed to my amusement, particularly when British India decided to stroll on stage. “I love you,” screamed one in the crowd, while others simply screamed as the band launched straight into Russian Roulette.
The set was a collection of most of their singles, including anthem Vanilla, which received an enthusiastic response, Avalanche, Run the Red Light that garnered the band ARIA Chart attention, and their current single I Can Make You Love Me. The indie darlings’ rendition of I Can Make You Love Me was dazzling, while Tie Up My Hands enlivened the mosh pit.
One thing about British India was how their performance was not governed by all the wild shit they did, but rather the cadence of the band. Declan Mellia’s voice hits the notes evocatively, while drummer Matt O’Gorman pulled faces for fans who were taking photos of him, and bassist Will Drummond and lead guitarist Nic Wilson played meticulously. Impressively, the mosh pit somehow crowd-surfed an empty garbage bin onto the stage, to everyone’s amusement.
“I hope the bin isn’t reflective of the show,” joked Mellia, but he needn’t have worried considering the room was packed and screaming back the lyrics. The Corner’s recent removal of the barrier – does this tell you how long it’s been since I’ve been there? – allowed for a more intimate show.
BY AVRILLE BYLOK-COLLARD
LOVED: When the garbage bin crowd-surfed on stage.
HATED: The moments when my head accidentally hit the speakers.
DRANK: Scotch.
