67 Special

It was an icy night in the country’s greatest rock and roll city, Melbourne, but things were soon going to change, as the country’s hottest new rock and roll property, 67 Special, took the stage for the launch of their debut album, The World Can Wait, at the Northcote Social Club.

Keen rock-pigs emerged from pubs all around the city and braved the typically inclement Melbourne weather to see their city’s newest rock and roll icons strut their stuff following the release of their long awaited debut. The venue was packed to the rafters. Punters were turned away heads in hands as the night was sold out before it even began.

The acoustic stylings of Ben Birchall and friends kicked off the night, with some tight licks and some a-grade egg-shaking. The beer began to flow as everyone prepared to be blown away by the headliners.

The Specimens followed - blasting their way through a set of quick-fire hard rock tunes, and portions of the crowd responded accordingly. But it was clear who everyone was there to see.

When frontman Ash Santilla emerged from back stage, the full house erupted; beers raised, and spines tingled, as the room filled to capacity. Fittingly opening with the title track from the new album, it was clear that the room needed no cue to commence rocking and rolling.

Sweat flicked from sweaty mops as boys and girls danced through the cold as one to crowd favorites Hey There Bomb, Radio Kill, Cotton Sheets and of course, the theme to middle Australia, the title track from the bands second EP, Boys and Girls.

The highlight of the night however, came from a sexy romp through the 60’s and 70’s rock and roll influences of the boys, Last Drag, as Ash threw in a line from the Door’s classic, Roadhouse Blues, “Roll, Baby, Roll,” as he spewed sex appeal from his bandana/scarf, reminiscent of Mr. Morrison himself, as girls buckled at the knees.

The band’s latest single, Walking Away, has been receiving plenty of radio play, and this showed as the crowd sang along to every lyric and shook their asses to every skanky note flowing out of Louis Macklin’s keyboard.

While the ladies had their eyes on Ash Santilla, the boys were all a bit keen on guitarist Gav Cambell, as a group of them shouted his name in lust at the first chance they got. The rhythm section of Ben Dexter (drums) and Bryan Dochstader (bass) held the rock and roll madness together, at the same time keeping heads nodding and feet tapping the whole show. And sure as hell, all the way home on the tram.

Expect to hear a lot more from the boys from 67 Special, whether it be inadvertently leaking from the doors of your nearest establishment, or booming from your home stereo.

The World Can Wait is available now through Festival Mushroom.

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