Rosemount Hotel, Saturday 7th May, 2011 : Review By SARAH ROBINSON

HUNGRY KIDS OF HUNGARY delivered a high-energy show at the Rosemount Hotel on Saturday night as part of ‘The Final Escapade Tour’. Despite playing four tour dates in WA, the Brisbane boys still played to a sold-out crowd. Not bad for their first headlining tour of the West.

ANDY BULL began the evening with a voice that could melt the wings off angels. The Sydney-sider delivered polished, poppy tunes accented by Ben Folds inspired keys. Riddled with songs from his debut album, ‘We’re Too Young’ - as well as his latest EP ‘The Phantom Pains’ it was the sets upbeat numbers that revealed the band’s worth. ‘Dog’ a Triple J favourite featuring, Lisa Mitchell was played without the talented songstress. But the band managed to do the song justice despite her absence, perhaps something to do with Bull’s incredibly high vocal range. There was even a slower and less edgy version of ‘Everybody Wants to Rule the World’ – a popular Tears For Fears track thrown into the set for good measure.

Sexy, dark and cool, THE CHEMIST was not the most suitable support slot for the cheerfully contagious Hungry Kids of Hungary. Despite the obvious genre diversity the band’s engagingly brooding set definitely struck a chord (or two) with Perth punters. Reminiscent of their experimental predecessors The Sleepy Jackson, lead singer Ben Witt crooned with two microphones, dabbled with feedback and showed a penchant for using sayings in his lyrics your Dad would be proud of.  The set lacked lustre towards the end, although early tunes such as ‘Lullaby #1 (Mercy)’ and ‘Sweet Dreams’ did add a compelling dynamic to the evening.

Next, the five-piece known as Hungry Kids of Hungary cluttered the stage. This all-singing band have certainly honed their stage show with tight vocal arrangements and a happy go lucky vibe that encourages involuntary head-nodding in even the most introverted of punters. Hits from their album, ‘Escapades’, including: ‘Let You Down’ and ‘Set it Right’ were reproduced with energetic fervour. When it comes to their first album, the band looks the way they sound – loads of fun.

Bull joined Hungry Kids of Hungary onstage for a rendition of ‘Last Waltz’, a song from Bull’s 2010 release, ‘The Phantom Pains’. The charming tune was followed by an announcement from singer, Kane Mazlin that “it would be all downhill from here…” On-stage banter was shared evenly between the two front men with Dean McGrath complementing Perth’s beaches and women in equal parts whilst tuning his guitar.

With the bands second album expected this year, Hungry Kids of Hungary’s set was littered with songs from the upcoming release. These slower paced tracks bordered on boring and highlighted the band’s talent for the up-tempo melodies that garnered them national radio attention. Vocal harmonies strayed off-key and the contrasting styles of music lead to a rather disjointed performance. The band returned for an encore, treating crowds to nineties favourite ‘1979’ by The Smashing Pumpkins.

Hungry Kids of Hungary finish off their national tour in Brisbane at the end of the month.