With an impressive new album out my anticipation to see Strung Out was high. As a long time fan and having see them live a few times down under. It has been a few years seeing Strung Out live, I was excited to hear the new songs live and some of Strung Out classics. But, I was also looking forward to seeing Pears. There has been a lot of hype around this band and I was hoping that they'd live up to it.

Pears started off promising. Zach Quinn reminded my of a young Iggy pop. After the first song, the crowd was informed that the bass player didn't make it Australia, and that Zach would be taking over. Unfortunately, the stage presence was lost when he played the bass. The songs were tight, quick and full of punk angst, but the band didn't quite have their unqiue chemistry on stage that I've heard about. Maybe on their next trip they can live up to their promise.

With the lights lowered and Queen's "Fat bottomed girls" on the speakers, the boys from Strung Out hit the stage. I was taken back to the nineties with "Exhumation of Virginia Madison," "Never Good Enough" and "In Harms Way," with Michael Jackson's "Beat It half" way through the song. The strong start was followed with "Velvet Alley," "Solitaire" and "Paperwalls."

Other highlights of the set included "Firecracker," "Too Close to See," and the Strung Out classic "Matchbook." As a longtime Strung Out fan (my first album of theirs Suburban Teenage Wasteland Blues) it was awesome to hear "Bring Out Your Dead." As is customary at the moment with Fatwreck Chords bands that visit Australia, the audience was treated to Strung Out's version of "Soulmate."

The powerful, melodic and energetic set came to a close and many happy punters spilled onto the streets, including myself.

Set list:

Exhumation of Virginia Madison

Never Good Enough

In Harms Way

Velvet Alley

Solitaire

Paperwalls

Rats in the Walls

Rebellion of the Snakes

Razorsex

Blew

Everyday

Animal

Never Speak Again

Skeletondanse

Firecracker

Unkoil

Nowheresville

Anna Lee

Matchbook

Too close to See (encore)

Bring Out Your Dead (encore)

Soulmate (encore)