AIRBOURNE TYLER BRYANT & THE SHAKEDOWN

O2 FORUM, LONDON

Hard-partying Aussies stand loud and proud for live rock’n’roll

ENERGY: THAT’S THE

the game tonight. TYLER BRYANT & THE SHAKEDOWN set a blistering standard with a driven, emphatic blues rock performance, but AIRBOURNE rise magnificently to the task of following them. The theme for Terminator 2 heralds the band’s arrival, and they rampage straight into Raise The Flag and Too Much, Too Young, Too Fast. Stripped to the waist, Joel O’keeffe is already sweating profusely. Part

Bon Scott, part Benji Webbe, part Dee Snider, he immediately holds the fans in his thrall, and keeps them under command. Now, this is a real frontman.

Airbourne never rest on their laurels. During Girls In Black, the effervescent O’keeffe jumps on a roadie’s shoulders and goes walkabout in the crowd; it’s an obvious homage to AC/DC rather than a rip-off of what Angus Young has done for decades. And he does a variation on this during encore Ready To Rock, heading into the balcony to perform a solo. But that’s not all. During It’s All For Rock’n’roll, a flight

case is rolled onto the stage, bearing the Motörhead logo. This serves as a makeshift bar, with O’keeffe acting as barman, handing out large measures of Jack Daniel’s and Coke, “The only drink we serve here!” he states. He goes one step further in Live It Up, throwing full plastic cups of beer to the crowd, even reaching the balcony in one impressive throw.

Let’s not forget the rest of the band. Uniformly dressed in black, they’re content to be in the background, but provide a tremendous rhythmical counterpoint to their leader’s perpetual motion. The performance climaxes with Runnin’ Wild, as

O’keeffe gets everyone to sit on the floor, before jumping up in unison as a hailstorm of confetti cascades from the ceiling.

This is pantomime season, and Airbourne’s irresistible manner fits right in – and that’s meant as a massive compliment. Right now, nobody better represents the glory of live music. MALCOLM DOME