Live Review: The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, The Sweet Apes, Red Beard

Beating out Wollongong and Canberra, UTS Glasshouse won the presence of The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus after an ingenious selection process. Fans across Australia were told the dates of shows but not the venue, and RJA came to see the cities that ordered the most tickets.

The grizzly Red Beard opened, flogging some synth-flavoured heavy metal in a blaze of fog and red lazers. The band's huge energy was matched and doubled by the showmanship of vocalist Tom Rooney.

Fronted by Maraya Vavasis – whose attitude and soaring vocals shone - Sydney post-hardcore four-piece The Sweet Apes drew comparisons with a pre-Twilight Paramore - the best kind of Paramore. Opening Soundwave last year, the youngsters have already made quite a name for themselves.

For the first time in nearly five years, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus graced Australian shores touring their Et Tu, Brute? EP. A few new tracks were scattered throughout a mostly old-school set, which pleased older punks proudly rocking their tattered RJA t-shirts.

Frontman Ronnie Winter's voice has lost none of its bite after his 10-year career and the engine room of bassist Joey Westwood and drummer John Hartman sounded as heavy as ever.

A string of average records left RJA relatively out of the Australian loop for years but there were no shortage of former and present angsty teens screaming for them, and the choruses of Damn Regret and Misery Loves Its Company were screamed back at Winters.

Unfortunately the newer tracks don't cover any new ground in the pop punk or RJA world - each of them shrouded with safety and predictability. Still, Face Down got the response of an all-time classic, and their set was damn near perfect.