Children Collide and Spod
Northcote Social Club - Melbourne

If there's anything to local ADD kids Children Collide it's shock and awe. The power trio work best on a visceral level - like their 'secret ' show at Pony a few months ago - frontman Johnny Mackay swinging his guitar wildly and screaming incoherently into the microphone just inches ahead of the ensuing feedback. When this facade is broken to just the stripped back band (or elevated and heard clearly as they were at the Northcote Social Club) and their rudimentary songs, repetitive lyrics and well-oiled engine room on show, that element of excitement is lost.

True, they had an unfortunate beginning on Friday night. After a fairly incendiary set from the truly confronting (to most of the radio-friendly audience anyway) Spod - who toyed with the audience via his bubble machine, glitchy-psychedelic R&B and creepy-cum-debonair man-sex - Children Collide had a hard act to follow. It didn't help matters that their bass amp crapped out immediately during the first song, perhaps pushed to the limits by Spod's backing band for the second set, the brutal Black Level Embassy. Collide's Mackay managed to keep the crowd engaged while a replacement amp was brought in however, thanks to some excitable crowd conversation and a brief industrial metal jam with a drunken punter.

Once the amp was replaced they were back on track, with a huge sound immediately emanating from the three piece. Throwing themselves into winning back the audience seemed an easy mission, as the majority of the almost sold-out crowd were well onside and willing them on. But what the re-ignition did suggest was something stock from the band, a newfound skill of not necessarily having to prove themselves any longer to an already eager crowd. And instead relying on their new-found slickness and stage moves, as opposed to, say, confidence generated from the songs underneath.

Whether it's nerves on the eve of a major-label push, coming to terms with their newfound headline status after being a perennial support band for so long, or just surprise at the gratitude in front of them, tonight the Collide seemed to simmer rather than steam.

(Pics: Tim O'Connor)