Pendulum - Metro City, 30th June 2018
Words: Todd Lockley
Few Perth dance luminaries have conquered the world quite like Pendulum. They've headlined, or at least played at, every festival you can think of in the world. Ask anyone in Perth (especially the humble DNB scene) and everyone knows the boys somehow, or saw them at some legendary "Heat" nightclub gig, or saw them create the Belvoir Amphitheatre on New Years 2006 (true story, Belvoir used to be flat until Pendulum blew it up that night).
Jumping forward 12 years and they were back in their home town for a sold out night at Metro City. Salt In The Wounds was a frantic, fast paced "how do" to commence proceedings. With no blabbering MC rambling over the tunes, it was up to black hat advocate and bass playing extraordinaire Gareth "Gaz" McGrillen to do the talking. It was very minimal, but welcoming. By second song Witchcraft, original member and all round musical genius Rob Swire took to centre stage for vocals, and keytar!.
The crowd lapped up every minute of it, flailing limbs, hand claps, mini circle pits, phones flying off the top deck (oopsy). This show had it all. The only thing missing was songs from arguably their best LP, Hold Your Colour, however, "the sonic recreation of the end of the world" Blood Sugar was a nice early touch.
The visual on the big screen were used to full effect, as Pendulum really are more an aurally enjoyable experience rather than visual. Four guys thrashing out bass music can drag on in those longer build ups and never ending break downs of the The Island double feature. However, it was the all out DNB bonanza of Tarantula that worked best, with MC Spyda appearing onscreen to rant out the lyrics about "going to your funeral, drinking all the alcohol then hitting on your sister, freeza!".
Singles Granite, Propane Nightmares and absolute fucking cracker (not banger) Slam were enjoyable and the crowd reaction made this reviewer feel so very proud that these lads were from where all these wonderful people dancing were also from. Pendulum, no matter which incarnation, were, and still are, a musical force to be reckoned with.
A cover of side project, Knife Party's Begin Again was fun, but nowhere near as fun as first encore ABC Theme Remix was. The place was heaving and shit was lost left, right and centre. Hold Your Colour closed out the main set with the signature deep breaths of Swire and pounding bass drum, before swan song of the evening Watercolour filled the air with flying fists and utter delirium chaos.
Pendulum came and conquered and delivered on all promises never made all those years ago. A smashing good time had by all.
Jumping forward 12 years and they were back in their home town for a sold out night at Metro City. Salt In The Wounds was a frantic, fast paced "how do" to commence proceedings. With no blabbering MC rambling over the tunes, it was up to black hat advocate and bass playing extraordinaire Gareth "Gaz" McGrillen to do the talking. It was very minimal, but welcoming. By second song Witchcraft, original member and all round musical genius Rob Swire took to centre stage for vocals, and keytar!.
The crowd lapped up every minute of it, flailing limbs, hand claps, mini circle pits, phones flying off the top deck (oopsy). This show had it all. The only thing missing was songs from arguably their best LP, Hold Your Colour, however, "the sonic recreation of the end of the world" Blood Sugar was a nice early touch.
The visual on the big screen were used to full effect, as Pendulum really are more an aurally enjoyable experience rather than visual. Four guys thrashing out bass music can drag on in those longer build ups and never ending break downs of the The Island double feature. However, it was the all out DNB bonanza of Tarantula that worked best, with MC Spyda appearing onscreen to rant out the lyrics about "going to your funeral, drinking all the alcohol then hitting on your sister, freeza!".
Singles Granite, Propane Nightmares and absolute fucking cracker (not banger) Slam were enjoyable and the crowd reaction made this reviewer feel so very proud that these lads were from where all these wonderful people dancing were also from. Pendulum, no matter which incarnation, were, and still are, a musical force to be reckoned with.
A cover of side project, Knife Party's Begin Again was fun, but nowhere near as fun as first encore ABC Theme Remix was. The place was heaving and shit was lost left, right and centre. Hold Your Colour closed out the main set with the signature deep breaths of Swire and pounding bass drum, before swan song of the evening Watercolour filled the air with flying fists and utter delirium chaos.
Pendulum came and conquered and delivered on all promises never made all those years ago. A smashing good time had by all.
