Small Ballroom, Newcastle
Thursday September 11, 2014 :
Intense. That’s the only way to describe what went down in the Small Ballroom when New Zealand’s finest punk export Die! Die! Die! took to the stage on Thursday night – and there were only about twenty people in the room.
Touring in support of their fifth studio album, S W I M (an amazing listen if you’re yet to hear it), the set list wasn’t limited to just new material – drawing from a broad range of the band’s now somewhat expansive catalogue.
Thrashing into their almost non-stop set, the three guys from Dunedin were essentially faultless in their fast paced and tight delivery.
Specifically, it’s quite clear that Andrew Wilson (vocals/guitar) is a performer with an unmatched sense of energy and showmanship. The way that the man can work a room, even with a crowd of such a small size, is nearly unexplainable. Entering the dance floor more then once, sometimes with his mic stand, sometimes with his guitar – Wilson writhed about on the floor, jumped on seating and danced with audience members. One of the most memorable moments being as he screamed 2008’s ‘A.T.T.I.T.U.D.’ as he moved through the crowd.
Other highlights included latest single ‘S W I M’ and classic track ‘Ashtray! Ashtray!’ (including another crowd invasion).
I honestly cannot say enough good things about the performance and I’m actually a little envious of those yet to see the trio on this tour. It was sweaty, intense, loud and exactly what I needed to get me through my Friday.
Reviewer and Photographer: Cormack O’Connor
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