The Aussies have come to Birmingham, and they’ve brought with them the raging soul of down under. DMA’S performed their Hills End Tenth Anniversary tour at a sold-out show in Birmingham’s O2 Academy on the 8th of February and it was nothing short of electric. Playing a run through of Hills End (2016), the band’s performance was vivacious despite the emotionally turbulent story that the album tells.

The Salarymen opened for the band, bringing even more indie rock up from Sydney. Renee de la Motte sang with a distinct voice, and paired with Thom Eagleton’s vocals, the sound of this band is indeed one that is original without forgetting influences of classic indie. They were a perfect choice to open for DMA’S, playing new and fresh music with a gripping stage presence.

These sort of gigs really do rely on the receptiveness of the fans and this crowd certainly came through with chants of “D-D-DMA’S” that were a promise of a lively night. As ‘Timeless’ began the set, the crowd was thrust, full throttle, into the music. With a standout guitar solo playing out the opening song, the indie rock trio kicked off the gig memorably. And this dynamic exuberance was not lost throughout the night.

There’s a coolness about this band, with frontman Tommy O’Dell casually wandering about the stage with a nonchalance that must be appreciated as a display of the bands versatile composure. Even a small slipup at the start of ‘Blown Away’ was played off with a relaxed casualness, despite having to restart the track. Despite this slight mishap, the track brought a sentimental slowness to the gig. The smooth calmness to this song allowed a break from the high-octane tone of the set. Its expressive ambience grounded the performance back in the emotionally complex themes of the album.

From a technical lens, the stage was set with what can only be described as a lightshow, devising an intensity that encouraged even more energetic enthusiasm from the fans. By the end of the album playthrough, this was particularly noticeable, as ‘The Switch’ and ‘Play It Out’ featured the red and white strobes that seemed to revive the liveliness of the crowd after the emotional sentiments of ‘Blown Away’.

Sat in the stalls I was able to watch as a frenzied mosh pit ensued in the standing area. This continued into the encore as the band played out with more fan favourites from their discography including ‘For Now’, ‘Silver’, and ‘Tape Deck Sick’. And, as the night came to an end, O’Dell thanked the crowd for their support over the last ten years. Whilst the band geared up to play their final song, ‘Feels Like 37’, there was a heartfelt moment between the frontman and a young fan who was gifted the band’s “tambo” (the correct Aussie term for a jingle stick). This short but sweet interaction really showed that this band thrives on its fans’ love and support, and they are not ignorant to this; there was truly a sense of appreciation for everyone in the room.

Despite their Australian roots, the anthemic Britpop that the band is undeniably best at is something that clearly resonates with the UK crowd. This tour proves that even after ten years, DMA’S music is timeless, bringing a nostalgia to old fans, and a spirit to new fans.

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