SXSW: Tale of 2 Aussies – the Drones, the Hot Kicks
Kevin Bronson on
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[Pure happenstance that I saw two bands from Australia back-to-back:]
The Hot Kicks (at the Troubadour Saloon) – “This band has incredible pants,” music writer and Thrillist.com honcho Jeff Miller told me upon seeing the Hot Kicks. Indeed, and they were probably borrowed too. The Melbourne three-piece’s tight, glammed-up pop-punk may be the stuff of rock ‘n’ roll cliche, but they are good at it. They brought plenty of signage, energy drinks bearing their image and an old-school rock spirit to the Give More Love Showcase; axeman Pete’s solos almost gave me a guitar face. Is there a Sunset Strip is in Melbourne? This trio should rule it.
The Drones (at the Red Eyed Fly) – Don’t be misled by the name; there’s little droney about this quartet. Their blistering post-rock take on grunge (or is that post-grunge take on rock?) exhilarated the crowd at the Topspin/Little Radio party, and is it sacrilege or a party foul Down Under to say a band reminds you a little bit of early Midnight Oil? There was that we-mean-business air about their set, thogh not overarching by any means. Watch for them on tour in L.A. next month.
What’s amazing about this band is that they aren’t a one trick pony. They have MULTIPLE pairs of really excellent pants. Seriously, I took a picture of one of the guys pants at another SXSW gig, which were almost as cool as the ones posted above.
The music was really good too for what it’s worth.