Live Review: Courtney Love, Mercy Kills

Melbourne-based rockers Mercy Kills opened the night with an eerie didgeridoo track that slowly faded as they burst into their first song You Can’t Find Me, followed by Don’t Give Up and Paradise Motel - from their new EP.

They thundered on, filling the room with a stadium-sized sound for the moderately sized crowd. The rockers seemed to give it their all with an enthusiastic stage presence and crowd appreciation. However, the formulaic veneer somewhat outshined their efforts. 

A deserving rant exploded from the rock queen’s mouth ending with “Throw it at me next time… we’ll have fun!”

Lowered lights coupled with epic entrance music preluded the infamous Courtney Love as she sauntered on stage. Cigarette in hand, she gave the audience a cheeky smile and began thrashing to Wedding Day, finishing with a long drag of the forgotten cig. With her fish-netted leg prominently planted on the speaker, Love led into Miss World, inspiring a dedicated sing-along to the Hole favourite. The nostalgia continued with Violet.

The unpredictable Love showed her true colours when a punter whipped a beer can at the young guitarist to her left. A deserving rant exploded from the rock queen’s mouth ending with “Throw it at me next time… we’ll have fun!” half-threatening a rumble. 

That was enough motivation for fans to encourage Love’s renowned behaviour as she rolled into a Fleetwood Mac cover of Gold Dust Woman. 

Still enraged about the beer launch, Love shouted, “I’m going to get you mother fucker” with an evil giggle. “You guys need to make me feel better about that fucking asshole,” the crowd cheered. “No, I need more!” Satisfied, Love worked her way into Malibu.

Still pulling off her saucy wardrobe with a black-laced mini dress, she knowingly gave a cheeky glimpse down under ever time she crouched down to reach audience member’s hands.  

She knowingly gave a cheeky glimpse down under ever time she crouched down to reach audience member’s hands.

“This is a song I wrote in two minutes, but I think you’ll like it” followed by Rockstar, screeched by all. Love may be 50 years old, but she can still scream like it was ’94. It was obvious that her heaviest thrashing days may be behind her, however, the audience certainly appreciated every taste of grime that bleach blonde guitarist was willing to offer. 

A quick wardrobe change and Love reappeared for an encore dressed in a semi-transparent white dress. She tossed red roses into the crowd, received with deserving excitement. Doll Parts appropriately concluded the set, as rock legend Courtney Love bid the audience farewell, echoing the half-filled Thebarton Theatre with the anthem of a generation.