Live Review: Tyrannamen, Sex Drive, Miss Destiny

Miss Destiny are solid and fast, have uncompromisingly harsh melodies, maintain the audience's attention straight-up and bring a fresh, punk energy that switches when Sex Drive take stage. Sex Drive is a five-piece from Queensland who play the middle set. They start and it's as if a fart bomb with staples in it goes off - the floor clears, glasses are smashed on the ground and people depress back to become a human fence. A hectic moshpit starts, which is unsurprising to anyone who has seen the band before; obviously the faithful are prepared and initiate the physical aggression floornado, but it's hilarious to those among us who are experiencing this band for the first time. The lead singer has a great, angry, yelling tone and 7" Australien know what they're doing playing two-minute bombs.

A guy jumps from the upstairs banister onto the floor, another hangs from the lighting rig, the band's frontman is ripped from the stage by his shirt and tossed about before being spat back up onto the stage. Audience members bash into each other and throw themselves into big objects like speakers. Some might say it's cathartic more than stupid, but it's hectic and not necessarily safe for all. It's hard to take your eyes off the foolery. 

Launching The Red Bull Sound Select showcase in Melbourne, Tyrannamen frontman Nicholas Imfeld relishes the job of crowd rouser. The crowd seems like they want to eat him, imitate him, revel in him and then - as tonight is testament to - sing along with every song, limbs akimbo. It's a moshpit and a dancefloor, but also like a diehard rock'n'roll pub singalong that sees us crushing against the security fence. There's also a little bit of crushing hard on the sexy soul vibes. Imfeld is a conductor and the band is nailed tight to their catalogue of favourites. The six of them seem to love each other and the crowd loves them. 

Bands who can balance being humble and completely confident while caring about being as a good as they can be that produce tight, interesting R&B, Australiana and punk tracks are good to have around. Tyrannamen are a sick band boasting one of Melbourne's top live shows. They control grouse melodies, solid backing vocals, tight riffs and one of the best frontmen going around town to justify the hype. And Tyrannamen's "newish song" is a highlight, because it's as good and catchy as the start-to-end bangers of their much-anticipated, then widely praised, self-titled LP (2016).  

Post-show, we can't remember whether Sex Drive played their 7" Australien, but certainly appreciate this track on second listen once back at home.