After (and despite) Rowland S. Howard's unfortunate performance last week
in Melbourne supporting Deniz Tek, I had high hopes for this evening, but
when I got to the Newtown Rissole there was a sign proclaiming that his appearance
had been cancelled due to illness, so the only support for the evening was
Further, a stoner band with a reasonable reputation and a particularly partisan
group of fans. While their music wasn't especially empathetic with DP (their
inclusion on the bill could even have been an example of Died Pretty manager,
and Citadel boss, John Needham's celebrated sardonic sense of humour), there
was nothing in their riffage to give offence.
However I was really only in attendance for one musical experience. In keeping
with the band's well documented habit of devoting itself entirely to each
new album once it is released, the majority of Died Pretty's set was again
drawn from the new "everydaydream".
As with the show at Bar Broadway, they opened with "Misunderstood", followed
by "Burning Mad", and had played almost the entire album before the night
was over, with only a small number of older tunes slipped seamlessly into
the flow ("Disaster" from "Doughboy Hollow", "Cry" from "Sold" and "Radio"
from the last studio album).
Though still pretty smooth, tonight's show wasn't quite as slick as the Bar
Broadway show. Having proved at that show that the new songs work well when
played live, the band seemed far more relaxed and able to enjoy their own
performances, with bassist Robert Warren even getting down on one knee at
one stage to give us a dash of guitar hero antics (or maybe he was just having
a problem with his instrument at that moment, but if so he covered it well).
After many playings of the new album, my only real criticism is that Brett
Myers has allowed his guitar work to take a bit too much of a back seat. Fortunately
this is not the case when the band plays live, where he is well represented
in the ensemble sound. Once again, the new songs got a good reception from
the audience, with plenty of dancing down at the front of the stage.
Despite the fact that the band is definitely more than just its front man,
Ron Peno always tends to become a focus of attention and he was particularly
demonstrative tonight, but also appeared completely unfazed when a guy climbed
up on stage and danced around him during one song (not a single bouncer to
be seen at that point, though when it was over they were highly visible and
very keen to get everyone out).
Throughout the show someone near me was periodically calling out for "Just
Skin" and I couldn't help wondering whether he was the same guy who kept yelling
out for that song a couple of years ago at the Metro when they were promoting
"Using My Gills As A Roadmap". If so, I've got to admire his persistence (and
I guess he'll really wet himself if he ever does get to hear them play it
again). However not all cries from the audience went unrequited. Enthusiastic
calls for an encore brought us a reprise of "Through My Heart", sung once
again by Brett (one of the nice surprises of the Bar Broadway show), followed
by "Harness Up" and "Slipaway".
For those who were patient and stayed on, ignoring the recorded music coming
over the PA and the raising of the lights, there was an added treat of "DC"
and "Sweetheart".
- John McPharlin
