REVIEW AND PHOTOS BY: GEORGIA GRIFFITHS

The Delta Riggs know how to put on a rock show. Even in a time where punters are unsure whether they’re allowed to sit or stand, dance or drink, the self-proclaimed “nice guys of rock and roll” are sure to have everyone enjoying themselves. Wednesday’s show at The Lansdowne was no exception, with Sydney devotees treated to a set that was full of twists and turns.

Salarymen were on support duty for the night, warming the crowd up with their brand of sunny, nostalgic indie pop. The duo, made up of Renee de la Motte and Thomas Eagleton, expanded to a full band for their live set, which allowed the chemistry between de la Motte and Eagleton to blossom. There were lots of smiles shared on stage as they made their way through a range of guitar driven tracks. They gave the growing crowd something to bop up and down to, with both the crowd and the band loosening up as the set went on. While they didn’t quite match the high energy that was to come from The Delta Riggs, it was still a whole heap of fun.

The Delta Riggs took to the stage after a short intermission, and at first the crowd didn’t know what to do with themselves. It was the first night of the newly eased restrictions in NSW, and we were told that while we could stand and drink we could only dance in place, but couldn’t walk around with a drink in our hands. As the changes had only been announced earlier that day, the table setting that had become the norm at The Lansdowne was also still in place. This led to a lot of people initially still choosing to sit for the first part of the set, while a select few danced (on the spot of course) up the back. The energy of the band was also hard to read in the earlier songs, as frontman and vocalist Elliott Hammond began the set playing the drums from the back of the stage. While The Lansdowne is an intimate space with a relatively small stage, from certain points in the room it was hard to see him, which certainly didn’t help the vibe. The music, however, was loud and upbeat. There were a few long-time fans towards the front who sang along to every word, with some quickly jumping up to have a dance.

The real show started once Hammond came out from behind the drums. His energy was infectious, with most of the crowd quickly jumping to their feet. The band ripped through a number of their classic songs along with some newer material. A highlight was the roaring track ‘Baddest Motherfucker In The Beehive’, with its catchy chorus and driving guitars getting most of the room moving. Hammond jumped around the stage, trailing the microphone stand with him, while the other members created the soundscape around him. While Hammond was generally the centre of attention, it was clear that the band worked as a unit. A guest appearance from rapper Gold Fang for ‘Get Right’ brought another twist to the show. He fit in quite naturally with the band on stage, and garnered a big response from the crowd as he left the stage.

Being the early show for the night, things started out a little weird, but by the end both the band and the crowd seemed to be truly enjoying themselves. I can only speculate how rowdy the late show may have been now that the band had warmed up. One thing was clear throughout though: The Delta Riggs are naturals on the stage, and they’re great at making everyone else feel at home too.