Review - Short Stack Live In Melbourne

03 July 2011

Thousands of teenage girls in black t-shirts congregating at Festival Hall could only mean one thing -- Short Stack were in town. And it was with a lot of excitement that I joined the audience at the Melbourne leg of their 'This Is Bat Country' Australian tour.

Short Stack are probably the hottest young band in Australia right now -- and I don't just mean talented. They are seriously good looking boys. Of course Short Stack fans have to choose a favourite. It's practically a rule. Singer Shaun Diviney, bass guitarist Andy Clemmensen and drummer Bradie Webb each have their own group of obsessive fans who want to marry them. I still haven't picked a favourite, but when I do I will be tweeting like crazy at my chosen boy.

Check out photos from the concert!

Festival Hall was packed out with teenage girls. Sure there were a few boys in the crowd -- but not many. There were also plenty of parents standing along the edges of the floor while their kids battled their way to the front of the crowd. The excitement of the audience was highlighted when one of Short Stack's team did a microphone test and said each of the band member's names. The girls went wild.

And then it was time. Short Stack had arrived. The boys kicked things off with 'We Dance To A Different Disco Honey', and then quickly followed it up with 'Are You Afraid Of The Dark'. The crowd were beside themselves with excitement, and it seemed like everyone knew every single word.

Highlights included the recent singles 'Heartbreak Made Me A Killer' and 'Planets' as well as the classic track 'Shimmy A Go Go'. There was a good mix of their older songs as well as newer tracks from 'This Is Bat Country'. And the crowd went absolutely mental when they played 'Princess', which must still be one of their most popular songs.

Check out all of Short Stack's music videos!

Drummer Bradie got the chance to shine with a rocking solo to Kanye West and Daft Punk's 'Stronger'. And Shaun slowed things down a bit when he took to the stage on his own with an acoustic guitar.

I'm definitely not a newcomer to the Stack. I actually saw them way back in 2009 when they were supporting The Veronicas at the Palais, along with Metro Station (RIP). Back then 'Princess' was their hot new single, and they had so much hair that there wasn't room for anything else on the stage.

Well the boys have toned down the hair since then, but they still know how to rock. And their performance at Festival Hall proved that the fans who supported them back then have multiplied by the thousands. The place was packed out, and the screaming was louder than a Justin Bieber concert.

Short Stack delivered a great show that really proved what a musical force they have become. I think we'll be hearing a lot more from these boys in the future.

Review by Julia Foskey