Live Review: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Stonefield

Hailed garage-rock revivalists Black Rebel Motorcycle Club brought down the Enmore Theatre last night with a non-stop two hours of heavy, swirling rock'n'roll. Support was supplied by the infectious psych-pop of Stonefield, who laid down '70s-tinged fuzz rock from their forthcoming new album, and well and truly warmed up the audience.

Californian trio Black Rebel Motorcycle Club emerged through a haze of green lights and smoke - exuding the sex, swagger and danger that has characterised their illustrious 20-year career - leading with hard-hitting, searing tracks from their eighth studio album, Wrong Creatures.

Robert Levon Been and Peter Hayes seamlessly shared lead vocal duties, while Leah Shapiro anchored their snarling guitar riffs, bass and keys with her thundering drum patterns. It didn't take long for BRMC to delve into more familiar territory with Beat The Devil's Tattoo and country-rock stomp number Ain't No Easy Way.

BRMC's loyal legion of fans remained transfixed on the brooding, energetic show from start to finish, stomping their feet, singing every lyric, surfing the crowd and spraying beers in revelry. Raucous movements peaked for fan-favourites Spread Your Love, Conscience Killer and set-closer Whatever Happened To My Rock 'N' Roll (Punk Song).

The menacing pace of the show took a short break for two acoustic solo numbers, wherein Been gave us a slow-burning campfire rendition of Ewan MacColl's Dirty Old Town, followed by Hayes' harmonica howling on Complicated Situation.

The stage design was minimal yet effective; pulsating lights and a thick layer of fog saturated the band, giving the members dramatic silhouettes and shadows to hide behind. A stack of amplifiers flooded the Enmore Theatre walls with the signature BRMC sound while also providing a high perch for Been to rest upon during the encore of Ninth Configuration. Banter from the band was also limited and offered mostly by Been, who expressed his deep gratitude for Australian fans.

BRMC show no signs of slowing down and their exhilarating performance was a much-needed reminder that rock'n'roll is certainly not dead.