Things were hot and heavy last Thursday at the UC refectory on the eve of Valentine’s Day. Australian rockers Birds of Tokyo burned up the stage in a night that left all in attendance smiling and sweating. The five-piece group from Western Australia have fallen under the ‘Independent Band’ title for a number of years. However, as recent as 12 months ago, the status and profile of Birds of Tokyo has skyrocketed them into the mainstream music scene.
When their fourth studio album ‘March Fires’ was released at the end of 2012 it debuted at Number 1 on the ARIA charts, a first for the boys – with many more accolades to come. The album went gold within four weeks of release and the triple platinum single ‘Lanterns’ was the most played song on Australia radio in the first six months of 2013. After playing Splendour in the Grass 2013 the lads went on tour with Muse as the only support act for their tour of Australia.
It’s hard to still call Birds of Tokyo an ‘independent band’ yet somehow they feel like one watching them live. There was an intimacy and also legitimacy of the evening; lead singer Ian Kenny made us feel at home, like he was performing the set at a local pub, by mingling and joking around with the fans. The boys seem humbled by their sudden rise to fame and left the impression that you’d want to buy these blokes a beer if you saw them out.
The light and stage arrangement was first class, adding to the experience of an already impressive show. It wasn’t until about halfway through the set that you realise just how many hits Birds of Tokyo have churned out since the release of their first album in 2007. Their song list is both vast and dynamic. So much so when their encore consisted of two songs rather than just the typical one; that sort of thing is usually reserved for internationally renowned acts! But no one in the crowd was complaining when they did it.
A special mention to the support act – Sydney indie band ‘Glass Towers’ who revved up the crowd with a solid set and created an atmosphere which lasted the entirety of the evenings events.
It is only a matter of time until Birds of Tokyo take off overseas, and deserve a level of success similar to that of Gotye. Their approach to their music is offbeat yet original, utilising standard rock ‘n’ roll without being stale or repetitive. Each release has its own flavour and appeals to a broad range of people. It’s hard to lock down a particular demographic that Birds of Tokyo appeal to (which was evident in the crowd of Thursday night) and it is testament to the range and uniqueness of this band. Birds of Tokyo are interesting, intriguing and worth seeing. This is the third time I have seen the boys perform live and they are only getting better.
