The View behave themselves at the Hi Fi

Words: Leah Holdsworth

Photos: Kate Scantleton

The View’s live shows are more than rumoured to be full of the usual rock ‘n’ roll antics. Tales of drunkard shenanigans have long since trailed along behind the band’s tour escapades.  One particular story that had me muttering ‘Wowza!’ was when the mischievous lead singer dived into a pit of frenzied fans… and emerged with shredded jeans and a fan that needed more than a sincere apology as blood gushed from his broken nose.

However, they somehow managed to behave themselves at their gig in Brisbane on Monday. In fact, they not only held themselves together but seemed to genuinely enjoy doing so. Though the band may have not performed raucously, they did perform with sincere gusto. And the crowd, sometimes themselves a tad boisterous, seemed to bounce off the View’s calm enthusiasm and likewise behaved.

The View had the crowd, and indeed myself, melting with their sweet little band exchanges and apparent delight in their own set. And with their Scottish accents, often flaunted (with some friendly banter that the crowd strained to understand), the band members had the women swooning, and with their boyish antics, had the lads of the crowd nodding along in fast approval.

Perhaps I was a little disappointed at the lack of rock ‘n’ roll mayhem. Maybe I secretly wanted the cute guitarist to guzzle a bottle of vodka (disguised as a bottle of water) and not last the full set. And I possibly was open to the idea of being part of a spontaneous moshpit full of high fans. But, alas, instead I found myself experiencing a band that was proudly playing songs from their debut and follow up albums. And a crowd that happily listened to, and sang along with, The View.