Swarms of hipsters flocked the streets of West End. Anticipation surged as The Brian Jonestown Massacre and The Raveonettes were set to go onstage. The turnout was significantly high for a cold Thursday night. The venue was at near capacity with both floors of the Hi-Fi open.

Danish duo The Raveonettes hit the stage first, showcasing there unique flavour of low octave bass drones with catchy up-tempo melodies. Punters were captivated as the band soured through numbers like Into the Night, Lust Lust Lust and Pretty in Black. In my opinion The Raveonettes were the true highlight of the night. The show was gripping, diverse and energetic.

The Brian Jonestown Massacre kicked off the second part of the evening, sinking the crowd into a deep well of white sound and reverb. Front man Anton Newcombe had a humble stage presence, opting to keep to the side of stage, out of the limelight, and somewhat obstructed from view. I was surprised to see the Tamborine player with the front and centre stage position. Possibly an ironic joke or perhaps Anton is just a shy front man.

The eight-piece opened the show with Stairway to the Best Party in the Universe, then continued with favourites such as Vacuum Boots and This is Why You Love Me. The show fashioned a dense hypnotic atmosphere, made possible by the five guitarists with reverb and delay set at ‘11’. Anton seemed somewhat isolated from the show rarely talking between tracks or acknowledging the crowd. Although at one point in the set he did have a crack at the drummer, saying he will fine him 10 dollars for every kick-drum beat missed.

Eventually the set did lose its initial energy and hypnotic vibe. The song structures rarely changed, the band was less then engaging, and at times it felt more like a garage jam session than a captivating live show.

Overall it was a worthy concert, purely because of The Raveonettes. The Danish duo certainly knows how to put on a show. It would be great to see them return as a headlining act. As for The Brian Jonestown Massacre I would have to say it was worthwhile yet underwhelming at the same time.