Whatever your opinion of grungy pop duo The Veronicas, one simply cannot deny that these chart-topping popsters garner a huge following - no matter how bizarre you might find their eclectic fan base of androgynous emos with asymmetrical haircuts.
Playing to a large crowd at Sydney's Oxford Art Factory, the girls arrived onstage to rapturous applause before launching into a slew of well-worn songs. Fans of these petite rock-wannabes need no particular reason to go wild, but for those not attuned to The Veronicas' lyrical stylings, there is one simple reason to respect the show: drummer Vik Foxx.
Foxx - who deftly fits the crowd's predilection towards androgyny - hardly broke a sweat as he played, despite the fact that much of The Veronicas' music is dependent on a hard, fast, punk-rock beat. Foxx threw his sticks in the air between cymbal clashes and big-drum beats, making an otherwise mediocre set glow white-hot.
The Veronicas are far from terrible. But their musical style appeals to angsty adolescents, rather than the true rock aficionado. Perhaps, though, this isn't altogether a bad thing; what's important is that people are having fun. However, this being their first over-18 gig in Australia, the girls lacked a certain conviction.
They alluded to a desire to drop the F-bomb and up the explicitness, but this rawness didn't materialise until the end of their set. Yes, I know, the Veronicas have never claimed to be more than popsters with a deftness for creating overtly sexual songs, but the ripped tights, skinny jeans and leather jackets offer a more rock-centric view, and frankly, it's not that appealing. Sure, running through hits like 'Take Me on the Floor', 'Hook Me Up' and 'Everything I'm Not' is sure to please a core fan base of teeny scenesters, but it's not a compelling reason to rush out and see this pair live. If, however, you do find yourself at a Veronicas gig, take pleasure in the band's shining beacon of actual rock - Vik Foxx.
Daniel Bloom
|
|