Aussie rock titans Bodyjar and Gyroscope hit Adelaide Friday night to play a sold out show at Lion Arts Factory to celebrate some milestones for two big and important albums in both bands respective careers. Bodyjar are celebrating twenty five years of No Touch Red and Gyroscope are celebrating fifteen years of Breed Obsession. Without showing my age I can remember when both those albums came out and following both the careers of both these much loved bands as if it was some sort of rite of passage.
Klinger supported setting the scene for what was to come. Like Bodyjar and Gyroscope it seems like it has been far to long since we have heard from this band and it isn’t until you see them live when you can fully appreciate how many great songs they have in their back catalogue. Fingers crossed that they can tour in their own right here sometime soon so we can here the likes of gems such as Hello Cruel World, Laundromatic, Twenty and Ben Lee.
Gyroscope were in ripping form and wasted no time getting in to it. There wasn’t any real surprises with their set list which was focused on Breed Obsession but they did turn things on its head presenting in a different order which really did work for them rather than play it from start to end. All the hallmarks of a Gyroscope show were there playing at a blistering and frenetic pace. They band ploughed their way through All In On One, These Days, O.K. and Weapon. Enemy. Friend. Polyphons and Multidors was a change of pace with front man Daniel Sanders reflecting on growing up listening to Bodyjar and that it had been four years since they were last here.
Absolutely love the acoustic guitar in Australia and 1981 was dedicated to Adelaide’s best looking bands The Hot Lies and Mere Theory. The crowd really amped up and got jumping hearing bit hit Snakeskin finishing with Time and crowd pleaser Baby, I’m Gettin’ Better. Keep an eye and be sure to see them with they return in November.
Bodyjar really did own the show charging their way through the set right from the get go. What I really dig about Bodyjar is their no bullshit, cut the crap and just get on with it approach playing the songs as they were intended. As front man Cam Baines said that they were playing like it’s 1998 smashing it out start to finish. Straight out of the blockers with Sequel, Remote Controller and Maze. The band were really tight with You’ve Taken Everything, Fragile Happiness and I Can’t Help You impressing even the most die hard of fans. Guitarist Tom Read took a second to sing “Da da da da da” after Carlton had just won their semi-final. Single Return To Zero was really cool finishing the No Touch Red part of the set with Big Fungoo, Letter Never Sent, Hideaway and the circle pit song Let ’em Loose.
The crowd found plenty of voice to sing-a-long to Not The Same and even Baines said that Adelaide is one the best crowds on tour. Pulling out crowd favourites Surrender, Simon & Garfunkel cover Hazy Shade Of Winter and their own big single One In A Million to finish only shows how much love there is here for Bodyjar. Great night out and a top way to bring in the weekend.
Live Review By Rob Lyon