Cuntz were in charge of opening the night, having not played in Melbourne for a while. The contemporary context of 2016 isn’t too kind to bands that choose to revel in a particularly iconic genre, such as Australian punk/proto-noise-rock of the mid ‘80s. A band has to be convincing in its own right, or else the merciless comparisons with Venom P. Stinger and Lubricated Goat come too thick and fast. The misanthropy and nihilism can be real, but as music, it’s how it is expelled that causes the audience to want to revel in it too, or turn away in scepticism. There were elements that alluded to a second dimension in their sound and image – the occasional camp affectation, an unexpected vocal part, and great guitar playing.
Miss Destiny had just returned from their album launch trip of the States, effusing the relentless power and effortless confidence earned from a few weeks on the road. Their playing was more focused and effective than before – still fast and tough, but the frenetic pace had been dialled back and the result was more hard-hitting. This allowed a string of songs like Killers, Welcome to Venus and Double Headed Snake to stand apart from each other, and the strength of the songwriting and melodies became really apparent. They have a formula, they have a tempo, and they love power-chords. There was a new song somewhere in the set and it delivered too.
Power played brilliantly. There was an unceremonious vibe about their set, but in a positive way. Despite the billing of the show as a USA send-off, they didn’t play overzealously and nor was the room totally full. It was just them slugging away like they do best. The hypnotic rhythmic element was there, a perfect case-in-point that a boogie riff played ad nauseam (and properly) can be as absorbing as a rigid motorik approach. This is the power of tension and release, unification and disruption. And that main disruption is the sound of a Fender Strat being torn apart the right way. The vocals were great in themselves, unhinged and performative. But bands like this are really about the relentless groove, the sound of three instruments and their players simultaneously amalgamating into one and stating their claim on their own. Motörhead fans and the band members themselves have said that the real intention of their music is to make you want to dance, but also bludgeon you with a beautiful, haggard slab of volume. This intent was present here.
WORDS BY GEORGE YOUNG
IMAGE BY ZO DAMAGE
LOVED: Loudness.
HATED: Some of the people there.
DRANK: A range.
