GalleryDitch This MagazineOctober 27, 2024gallery, live, melbourne, The Bennies, Young Offenders, Ben Gunzburg, CeeCee, Teamwrk, Less Than Jake

Less Than Jake + The Bennies + Young Offenders @ 170 Russell 25-10-24

GalleryDitch This MagazineOctober 27, 2024gallery, live, melbourne, The Bennies, Young Offenders, Ben Gunzburg, CeeCee, Teamwrk, Less Than Jake

photos: Ben Gunzburg @benshootspeople
words: CeeCee @CeeCee

After an electrifying show in Auckland, the legendary Less Than Jake hit our shores, kicking off their "Rockview Down Under" tour at 170 Russell in Melbourne. Joining them were local favorites The Bennies and Adelaide’s Young Offenders. It was a night packed with laughter and good vibes—my sides were aching by the end from all the fun!

We arrived early to catch the two-piece punk band from Adelaide, and we were not disappointed. Despite being a duo, their set was packed with catchy tunes and a high-energy performance that had vocalist Kyle Landman pouring sweat from the effort he put in.

They treated us to a preview of their newly released single, "Into Town," while also including songs from their earlier EP, like "Sunday Morning." They even threw in some earlier favorites, such as "Your Daddy’s Above The Law," showcasing their range and talent.

At the end of the set, Kyle and drummer Leigh Shags shared a heartfelt hug, celebrating a job well done. It was a genuinely uplifting moment. This is definitely a band I’ll be adding to my playlist!

What a barrel of laughs! This The Bennies delivered an absolutely fantastic set. Having seen them live a few times, I can confidently say they never disappoint with their high energy and entertaining performances.

They kicked off the night with "Detroit Rock Ciggies," an oldie but a goodie that perfectly set the tone for the rest of the show. The energy and antics were contagious!

The lead vocalist, Anty, kept the crowd engaged with his playful jokes and dynamic movements across the stage—no wonder he rocks those spandex! They also treated us to a preview of their new song, "Let's Have A Party," which was a total crowd-pleaser and had everyone buzzing.

For their finale, "Party Machine," they surprised us with a cheeky nod to Slayer, incorporating Raining Blood mid-song. What a delightful twist!

With a new album set to release next year, I can’t wait to hear it in full. It’s sure to be a good time!

As the sounds of a train filled the air, a voice came over the speakers, announcing, “Welcome to Rockview.” Less Than Jake stormed the stage, beaming with energy as they kicked off with "Last One Out Of Liberty City," instantly igniting the crowd to scream along.

One of my favorite moments came with the iconic opening of "All My Best Friends Are Metalheads," which had me grinning from ear to ear. Lead vocalist Roger Lima invited the audience to join in, playfully saying, “You guys wanna do a little singing tonight?” The enthusiastic cheers that followed set the stage for a fun call-and-response that sent the crowd into a frenzy.

After the song, Roger declared, “Safe to say it’s the best show on the tour,” before Chris DeMakes attempted to introduce Buddy "Goldfinger" Schaub. He was humorously interrupted by Roger, who made a cheeky comment about smuggling trombone slide oil through customs, referencing an earlier interruption during Chris’s storytelling.

Roger also gave a shout-out to Melbourne’s resident Mohawk king, joking, “I’m not expecting much of a circle pit because I only see one guy with a Mohawk.” To everyone’s surprise, the Melburnians proved him wrong, creating a pit that would put any hardcore gig to shame during their song "Motto."

Chris reminisced about their first trip to Australia in 1996, noting that Mexican food didn’t even exist on our shores yet. He prompted a sing-along with "Never Had So Much Fun," and at one point, invited an audience member on stage. “Come right here, you’re a grown man—get this guy a drink and sit behind me so I can hear you!” Matt happily joined the band, and soon after, Alana was invited up to sit beside him, adding to the fun atmosphere.

For the encore, they returned with three more songs, starting with "The Science Of Selling Yourself Short." Balloons were thrown into the crowd, and it was a joy to watch grown adults revel in the playful chaos. They wrapped up the show with a nostalgic farewell: “Catch ya later, Bill and Ted!”

I could go on and on about how fun and engaging this show was. I would see these guys again and again! If you haven’t seen them live yet, I highly recommend seizing the chance.

A big thank you to the crew at Teamwrk and 170 Russell for allowing us to cover this fantastic event!