Live Review: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Immigrant Union

What better way to spend a cold and miserable Saturday night in Sydney than listening to one of the most powerful rock displays in the industry.

Opening the night was Melbourne group Immigrant Union, who delivered an energetic and catchy set that was the perfect intro for BRMC. Then, coming off the success of their latest album Specter At The Feast, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club delivered a solid two-hour performance like no other in the small and intimate Hi-Fi confines.

BRMC had a very dark and smoky presence on stage with a compelling, although somewhat epileptic lights display fuelling their performance. The San Francisco trio entertained the sold out crowd with a great mix of the old and new with stand-out songs throughout the whole performance such as Ain't No Easy Way and Shuffle Your Feet. The crowd was also treated to a great acoustic segment featuring a chilling performance of Complicated Situation that led in to an astonishing finale that got the crowd charging with explosive renditions of Spread Your Love and Six Barrel Shotgun.

Peter Hayes and Robert Levon Been sure knew how to get the crowd going. There wasn't too much monologue in between their ear-popping hits apart from the odd thank you. But with their trademark laidback/leather jacket style they were able to give the crowd exactly what they had come for, at one point even asking what the crowd wanted to hear – with the overall response being EVERYTHING! Red Eyes And Tears then followed which was a signal of things to come as the audience.

Throughout the performance they remained focused on delivering a loud and energetic show that was exactly what all in attendance were after – turning a captivated audience into a riot towards the end. Leah Shapiro was hardly visible beyond the smoke and darkness at the back on drums but she was most definitely heard by all. Overall a very polished and forceful performance, which is a sign of things to come for the Hi-Fi, as some great acts are booked for the coming weeks. BRMC once again proved that rock is alive and well and in very capable hands.