With summer teasing of its return, The Fearless Vampire Killers, with their chilled out surf rock, are just the music you want to accompany you into the warmer weather.
Not to be confused with the UK band of the same name (alternative rockers decked out in Victorian gothic attire who bring it a little differently with their theatrical goth rock), these Melbourne gents took over the FBi Social for the evening with their own brand of rock.
There were no pretentions, just a couple of guys happy to be on stage, straight from a ten hour drive up from their native city no less.
The set-up at the Kings Cross Hotel, FBi has supplied punters access to quality local acts and first rate up and comers as they enter the scene. With their casually placed and mismatched couches the venue is perfect to wander between the bar and the stage and take in the night’s offerings.
The set contained a mix of tracks from their first album, Batmania, which surfaced in October 2011, and tracks from their latest efforts which they’ve been recording of late.
Old favourites like “Loaded Gun”, which the group wrote while on a trip to Sydney, sat well against their newer material, including the much anticipated single “Mexico”.
The band, known for harnessing an energy from another era and capturing the rough production values of the sixties on their records, were able to bring that same vibe to the stage – retro feel, fuzzy guitars, and all.
As the night wore on it became clear why they’ve garnered comparisons to indie Brit rockers The Libertines, not just by way of resemblance to their sound but the chilled out cool with which they carry themselves along with the ease with which they made spontaneous adjustments to the setlist as the night progressed.
A few hiccups during their set, in the form of busted strings and minor technical difficulties, didn’t get in the way of them putting on a good show. The Fearless Vampire Killers definitely seem to like what they do and it’s pretty apparent in the way they enjoy themselves on stage.
Mention must be made to the notable performance of opening bands Black Lakes, and OXBVLD, both locals from Sydney who worked up the crowd and inspired some pretty animated dancing amongst them.
