ASH REVIEW
Last night the Metro Theatre in Sydney was packed with fans ready to step back into the world of 1990s alternative rock, as Irish power-pop legends Ash brought their 1977 30th Anniversary Tour to town, with Trillion opening the night.
Opening the show was Trillion, and they came out with plenty of energy and gave the room something to get behind. Their guitar work had a nice combination of melody and crunch, while the bass sat underneath the songs with a strong, steady tone. The drums gave everything a good push, and their vocals had enough power to cut through the guitars.
The next song was "Touch and Something Like This", and Trillion continued to build their set with a mixture of catchy guitar lines and driving rhythms. Their guitars carried most of the melody while the bass and drums kept the songs moving.
As the band played "Seen Unseen, Sure and Death Arrows", you could hear the confidence in their performance. The guitar riffs were sharp and polished, and the drummer brought plenty of movement into the songs. By the time they reached their last song, "Me and You and Echoes", Trillion left the stage with the crowd warmed up for Ash.
The lights went down, and the iconic 20th Century Fox intro played, as Ash made their way onto the stage. This was a special night for fans, because the band celebrated 30 years of 1977 by performing the album in full. The set showcased Ash's combination of power pop, punk, Britpop and big melodic hooks.
The band opened with "Lose Control and Goldfinger", and the atmosphere inside the Metro was a mixture of cheers, whistles and people singing along from the opening moments. Frontman and guitarist Tim Wheeler delivered the songs with a natural rock 'n' roll attitude, and his vocals were slightly gritty, but also became softer and more melodic when the songs called for it.
As Ash continued into "Girl From Mars, I'd Give You Anything and Gone the Dream", some fans were singing every word, while others were simply taking in the performance. You could see people in the venue nodding along and enjoying the music. Mark Hamilton kept the bass moving underneath the guitars, and he gave the songs a solid foundation, while Rick McMurray provided the punch from behind the drum kit.
As the band played "Kung Fu, Oh Yeah and Let It Flow", the vocals became one of the highlights. Tim Wheeler delivered the verses with a relaxed style before opening up during the bigger parts of the songs.
Then came "Innocent Smile and Angel Interceptor", and the Metro became louder. Fans could be heard singing along throughout the songs, while others raised their hands towards the stage, and the fans were dancing and bouncing along to the faster sections. Ash showcased their 1977 album live, you could hear the different sides of Ash. Some songs came across with a rawer punk energy, while others leaned heavily into the band's melodic side.
Ash played "Lost in You and Darkside Lightside" Tim Wheeler delivered another strong vocal performance, and he balanced the softer parts with the more powerful sections. There was a real sense of ease in the way the band performed, as though these songs had become second nature after so many years of playing them.
The band walked off stage, and the crowd cheered for one more song. Ash came back with "Zarathustra, Fun People and Add Astra", and the combination of bass and drums gave the track a strong pulse; the rhythm was tight, and added movement on top, and the guitars and vocals carried the melody. Ash moved through 1977 with a great sense of pace. Thirty years on, the songs still sounded energetic, and there was very little feeling of this being a simple nostalgia show.
After Ash finished the 1977 album, they gave us some hits, including, "A Life Less Ordinary, Shining Light and Orpheus", and some fans knew every word, while others simply joined in on the bigger choruses. It was one of those moments where the difference between the stage and the audience seemed to disappear for a while.
The crowd wasn't ready to let Ash leave, and they continued playing more of their hits. As the crowd cheered, Ash played "Jump in the Line" (by Harry Belafonte), and the crowd danced along.
Ash played Burn Baby Burn, and it was a strong way to close the show, and it brought together the catchy melodies, guitars, bass, drums and distinctive vocals that had carried the performance from beginning to end.
Trillion were a solid, energetic, upbeat way to begin the night. From the opening notes through to the final song of the encore, they delivered a night filled with memorable songs and strong performances.
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As we walked out of the Metro Theatre, it was clear that 1977 still has plenty of life in it. Ash managed to make the anniversary feel like more than simply looking back at an old record. The songs sounded alive, the performances felt natural, and the Sydney crowd clearly appreciated having the chance to hear them played live again, and it was proof that great rock songs don't have an expiry date. After a night like this, Ash have shown that 1977 still sounds alive.