The Drones - Metro Theatre, 25 April, 2009

Kev Carmody, a last-minute addition to replace the visa-troubled Qui, provided a thought-provoking entree, empowering us all to become indigenous as one if we sang along with his finale - his Paul Kelly collaboration 'From Little Things Big Things Grow'.

The Drones appeared with grown-out and scruffy and greasy ponytail-restrained hair and Jon English eyes. Not that it matters, but the sights tonight reflected the sounds. This was The Drones at their most ragged: the same band that have in recent years scaled the heights of Oz music acclaim with an Australian Music Prize win once used to live rough in a caravan park, and they channelled more of the latter than the former tonight.

Opener 'Nail it Down' set the tone and they soon built up into a messy and manic 'The Minotaur', which was impressively intense. It also provided the first heavy dose of what would be the most common sight on stage for the night - that of Gareth and Dan hunched over their guitars, wringing out searing solos and buzzing riffs.

The fact that it was drummer Mike Noga's 31st birthday tonight added its share of hijinks to proceedings. While the sprawling 'Locust' may usually be a dramatic highpoint delivered with a certain hushed reverence, tonight it was accompanied by a jovial exchange about alcohol, with Gareth declaring: "That ain't no real beer - whisky, that's a real beer! I'm an alcoholic, certified; no wait, management is here. I'm not, it's just for my image."

'Shark Fin Blues' was played as a "happy birthday" song for Mike, though it was more of a gift for the audience. 'She Had an Abortion that She Made Me Pay For' and 'I Don't Ever Want to Change' were icing on the cake.

Mike spent the last few minutes of his birthday playing harmonica on a particularly great duet of 'Sixteen Straws' before a musical nod to their special guest Kev with their cover of 'River of Tears' to finish the set, and most likely begin the real partying.

Andy Ryan
28 Apr 2009

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