On a hot and sweaty Friday night, Melbourne’s long-running punk rockers The Meanies launched their new LP It’s Not Me, It’s You. Arguably one of the best band names in Melbourne, openers Liquor Snatch delivered a short set of rough and scrappy noise punk. Poison City label mates Flour cruised through a set of fuzzed out early-‘90s alt-rock, despite guitar issues and a fill-in bass player. They’re still relatively new, but the band’s musical understanding is clear in the strength of their songwriting and musicianship. Long-running Geelong rockers Warped played an ear bleeding set of monster riffs, effortless jamming and guitar interplay. Playing hundreds of shows since 1991, the band was absolutely on fire, tearing apart the stage with heavy rock‘n’roll that more than sufficiently warmed up the crowd.
Taking the stage to a packed and eager room, The Meanies powered through a set of classic songs and cuts off their new record. Remarking that it was “Good to finally play a different set after 21 years”, vocalist Link Meanie performed with all of his trademark enthusiasm and commitment. Launching himself into the crowd during fan favourite, Never, the fearless vocalist has maintained the level of unpredictability and destruction demonstrated at the band’s wild early shows. With no signs of toning down their raw performances, early singles such as Scum and Gangrenous were performed with the consistency and power that has always been present in the band’s songwriting and live shows.
While the band hasn’t changed much since their inception, there was no sense of dwelling on the past and cashing in on nostalgia. Similar to the rekindled interest and popularity of fellow Melbourne punk rock staples Cosmic Psychos, The Meanies have avoided getting trapped in an insular scene. Although their brand of melodic skate punk may have risen to more successful, commercial heights in the mid-to-late 1990s, there are few bands whose pioneering style still remains fresh and relevant after 25 years.
BY JOE HANSEN
Loved: Scum.
Hated: Link Meanie didn’t draw blood for a change.
Drank: Fat Yak.
