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BANDS: Nothing But Thieves, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets VENUE: Metro Theatre, Sydney DATE: 28th July, 2018
Two years ago, five lads from Essex took to the stage at the Oxford Art Factory in Sydney for a jaw-dropping Splendour In The Grass sideshow, armed with just an EP and a considerable amount of jet-lag. Fast-forward to last night, and the charming gents from Nothing But Thieves not only once again completely owned their Aussie fans, they practically tore the roof off the Metro Theatre (and yes - they're still jet-lagged).
It's a sold out evening at the Metro, but judging by the marathon length of the queue to get in before the doors are even open, people aren't just cramming in to catch the main act - and no wonder since the NBT boys have brought along Perth psych rockers Psychedelic Porn Crumpets for the ride.
Armed with a distinctly Brit-pop-tinged psych garage arsenal, the Psychedelic Porn Crumpets easily fill out their set with crunchy riffs and woozy tones, helmed affably by human Pantene commercial Jack McEwan and his luscious locks. Crowd favourites like 'Cornflake' and 'Marmalade March' easily win over the room, and it's a tight but short set that highlights why these guys are consistently commanding so much hype. Sure, with a name like that you're bound to get attention, but there's more than just a gimmicky moniker to Psychedelic Porn Crumpets (lauded later in the evening as having the best name in the biz by Nothing But Thieves frontman Conor Mason), and there's little doubt these guys are going to explode even more in the next year to come.
As the Metro fills up and the lights go down once again, a delighted roar erupts from the crowd as the Nothing But Thieves lads take the stage for their biggest Australian show so far, leaping immediately into 'I Was Just A Kid' from their recent album 'Broken Machine'. What follows is a raucously captivating set covering newer tracks (including 'I'm Not Made By Design' and 'Soda') and a smattering of favourites from their self-titled EP ('Trip Switch' and 'Ban All The Music' particularly swaying the crowd into a stomping frenzy).
It's no secret that Nothing But Thieves can balance their blasting rock with heart-rending emotion, a tendency perhaps highlighted for their constant pairing over the years with fellow emotive Brit rockers Muse. But while occasionally hinting through the set at their softer side with tracks like 'If I Get High' and the swoon-worthy 'Particles', it's the grooves, the hooks, and frontman Conor Mason's vocals coated in ferocious porcelain that significantly stay with you long after you've dodged the crushed cans on the ground to get home.
There was ultimately so much love in the room for the Essex quintet in Sydney town, but it's definitely not a one-sided affair; the Nothing But Thieves boys quite literally can't wipe the smiles off their faces, and Conor's adorable banter with the crowd frequently drives home the refreshing lack of ego onstage. Whether lamenting jet-lag, labelling the DJ Otzi "classic" 'Hey! Baby' as the Aussie national anthem, or just busting out some sizzling rock and roll, there's no question that Nothing But Thieves stole all the hearts and the show at the Metro, and here's hoping it's not too long before they hit our shores again.
FOR MORE INFO, CHECK OUT:
NOTHING BUT THIEVES: www.nbthieves.com
PSYCHEDELIC PORN CRUMPETS: www.psychedelicporncrumpets.com
BY TIANA SPETER