The Jesus & Mary Chain -- The Arena
The Jesus & Mary Chain , The Rakes, Ghostwood
April 1, 2008
The Arena, Brisbane
This one is review number fifty for Fasterlouder! It's quite an exciting thought; I don't think I expected to do this many when I began writing reviews back in late 2005. I hope people have enjoyed reading them and/or have not been too bored by seeing them. In any case, it's helped me improve my writing and that's what counts. And, mostly, I've had a lot of fun doing it. On this particular review, JAMC were awesome. Loved the sound; melodically driven feedback and wail really plays to what I enjoy in a piece of music.
Unperturbed by the Arena’s empty spaces, Sydneysiders Ghostwood attack their opening slot with gusto, layering oodles of echoing feedback into dreamy guitars in the most attractive way. The middle pair of their short five-song burst push toward fast-tempo hardcore territory, robbing lead vocalist Gabriel voice of some of its melody and dulling the layered intricacy of the guitars. The four-piece return to the opening theme as they conclude - a mini-opus complete with five minutes of guitar-noodling and a multi-pronged percussion attack that’s only saved by the sexy bass line that anchors the piece.
By contrast, The Rakes play what feels an interminable set. Eventually, their brash britpop numbers bleed into one another - a crime that might have been avoided with a tauter set. Taken individually, songs such as We Dance Together are full of infectious guitar hooks and sexily danceable beats - but only the hardcore fans could keep pace for an entire hour. It’s also impossible to decide whether the affectations of Cocker-esque frontman Alan Donohoe are endearing or annoying. Awkward and kookily phrased stage banter hovers on the edge of irksome, but his robotic hand gestures enhance rather detract, lending the five-piece an amusing nerd chic-ness.
Continue reading "The Jesus & Mary Chain -- The Arena".
April 1, 2008
The Arena, Brisbane
This one is review number fifty for Fasterlouder! It's quite an exciting thought; I don't think I expected to do this many when I began writing reviews back in late 2005. I hope people have enjoyed reading them and/or have not been too bored by seeing them. In any case, it's helped me improve my writing and that's what counts. And, mostly, I've had a lot of fun doing it. On this particular review, JAMC were awesome. Loved the sound; melodically driven feedback and wail really plays to what I enjoy in a piece of music.
Unperturbed by the Arena’s empty spaces, Sydneysiders Ghostwood attack their opening slot with gusto, layering oodles of echoing feedback into dreamy guitars in the most attractive way. The middle pair of their short five-song burst push toward fast-tempo hardcore territory, robbing lead vocalist Gabriel voice of some of its melody and dulling the layered intricacy of the guitars. The four-piece return to the opening theme as they conclude - a mini-opus complete with five minutes of guitar-noodling and a multi-pronged percussion attack that’s only saved by the sexy bass line that anchors the piece.
By contrast, The Rakes play what feels an interminable set. Eventually, their brash britpop numbers bleed into one another - a crime that might have been avoided with a tauter set. Taken individually, songs such as We Dance Together are full of infectious guitar hooks and sexily danceable beats - but only the hardcore fans could keep pace for an entire hour. It’s also impossible to decide whether the affectations of Cocker-esque frontman Alan Donohoe are endearing or annoying. Awkward and kookily phrased stage banter hovers on the edge of irksome, but his robotic hand gestures enhance rather detract, lending the five-piece an amusing nerd chic-ness.
Continue reading "The Jesus & Mary Chain -- The Arena".