Tonight kicked off in a suitably loud and gloriously rowdy fashion with four-piece Rain Party opening proceedings.

A deliciously effective and different take on indie rock, courtesy of bassist/lead singer Niege Koppes, providing a great example of a really good gel between support band and headline act.

“Stay” and “Watch Me Run” were two standouts of a set that entertained the arriving crowd.

Formed in England in 1963, The Pretty Things are one of the most influential bands you’ve probably never heard of.

Taking the music of rhythm and blues, which was popular during the time, The Pretty Things really ramped it up to quite unheard of levels.

Setting the template musically for what we now know as ‘garage rock’. With vocalist Phill May and guitarist Dick Taylor present this evening, on their first visit to Australia, this was unapologetically loud, abrasive rock and roll the way nature intended it to be.

A massive influence on bands across the pond, such as The Stooges, The MC5 and The Sonics, the influence of The Pretty Things cannot be underestimated. Australian bands such as Radio Birdman and The Hard -Ons are but two that have taken them to heart as well.

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The big questions tonight was whether or not they still cut it and are worth their legacy, nearly fifty years after they begun. The answer was ‘yes’, and then some!

Kicking off with the stomping “Roadrunner” (no, not the Jonathan Richman song), the band, performing tonight as a six piece, proved that age has not wearied them one little bit.

Guitarist Dick Taylor is also somewhat famous for being part of the original lineup of The Rolling Stones, but left before they became, in his words, “too commercial”.

The fact that The Pretty Things, and their all-out sonic assault, would have been too confronting for audiences 50 years ago might have some bearing on why they didn’t become as big as The Beatles or The Stones.

Tonight was foot to the floor, foundation shaking rock at its most hugely enjoyable and soul satisfying.

It was wonderful to hear tracks from the band’s best known album, 1968’s S.F. Sorrow, recognised by many as rock’s first concept album. The songs presented in this fiery and compelling set really brought home the influence that the band have had on the shape and texture of music as we know it.

The absolute highlight was an electrifying version of “Don’t Bring Me Down”, where they were joined onstage by an old friend, Melbourne bassist/harmonica player/man mountain John Stax.

This was a moment that truly defined rock and roll at its most thrilling and dangerous. A searing, blistering set from a band that can run rings around the young whippersnappers out there proclaiming to be true ‘rock’ bands.

An early Xmas present and an absolute treat to all in attendance.

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