Live Review: Hinge, Bushido, Never

After attending many progressive rock and metal gigs recently (including, but not limited to, the mighty Progfest show last week), it is actually great to watch something that is aimed at the viscera rather than at the cerebral cortex for a change. Never are a relatively new band although, at the same time, they are very much an 'all-star' line-up from the Melbourne heavy music scene, featuring current and former members of such luminaries of the scene as Dreadnaught, Frankenbok, Tailbone and Red Sky Burial. They play a ballsy-arse rock'n'metal, in the grand old tradition, that puts a smile on your face and gets your head a-bobbin' and your devil's horns a-thrustin' skyward.

Of course, musicians/songwriters of such illustrious pedigree know exactly how to pen a damn good tune, and this band draws influence from Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Kyuss and AC/DC in pretty equal measures, channelling it into a uniquely Aussie, sticky-carpet-pub style of heaviness. And it's shitloads of fun, culminating in their set closer, which is a bluesy, slow-burning tour de force.

It's back to the grey matter as Bushido take the stage and proceed to ravage the crowd with their intelligent, rugged take on progressive/alternative/heavy rock. This band made a serious name for themselves in the mid-late 2000s, but are no longer really a going concern. However, judging by the burgeoning crowd many other people remember them with great affection as well. And why not? Their dark, left-of-centre progressive rock is rich with great harmonies, snaky-but-bombastic grooves, delay-driven guitars and top-grade musicianship (especially drummer Alex Dinic, who makes his thunderous, syncopated playing look like shelling a pea). It's fabulous to hear that contrasting, clean and raspy lead vocal trade-off between frontmen Guy Shenfield and Jaymz Phillips again.

A night like this is like going to a high school reunion where you actually liked all the people you went to school with. Hinge were another high profile band on the Melbourne alt-rock scene during the 2000s, but really only bob up every now and again to play a show for fun. But, when they do, you take notice and you damn well show up.

After some initial issues with the main vocal mic, the band slam out their quirky-but-powerhouse art-rock with a gusto that is infectious and the near-capacity crowd drinks in every note. In fact, many in the crowd sing along to every lyric that's crooned and belted out by frontman Glenn Johnstone, despite the fact that this band haven't released any new music for nigh on a decade.

These bands were the bedrock upon which the current Aussie scene was built and it feels great to pay tribute to them again. In fact, both Hinge and Bushido are actually sounding better than ever. They just look a lot older.