Handsome Furs
The Corner Hotel, Melbourne
Thursday 27th August 2009
The first thing that strikes about the Handsome Furs is their sheer presence. The couple are all angles; Dan Boeckner - better known as the co-frontman for Canadian indie stars Wolf Parade - lumbers on stage in a sleeveless black tee, half shaved Baltic quiff, his Tele Deluxe slung low. Prowling, seemingly winding himself up. His partner - both on and off stage - Alexis Perry, positively bounces up to her drum machine and keyboard set up in a ball of neon colours, swinging jewellery and mop of straw coloured hair atop raccoon eyes and a beaming smile. They're happy to be here. They're excited. They're WIRED!
The second thing is how fucking LOUD they are. Not just for a duo but anyone. On record it's Boeckner's Springsteen-esque yowl and arrangements that shape the band, that carry its load and tell its stories. Live, it's the industrial punch of the beats; deep sub bass, shrill electronics that coalesces into a thunderous propulsion for which to harbour Boeckner's octave filtered guitar squalls and tales of related alienations. It's brutal, more in line with the industrial punk lineage of Suicide, Ministry and say, Joy Division, rather than any widescreen "indie" Boss-isms (though those pop arrangements aren't lost in the slightest). It's awesome; a hedonistic rush. Adrenalin personified.
The band stick largely to cuts from their recent and most excellent record Face Control. 'Legal Tender' kicks off proceedings, and send the duo immediately into spittle-flying, wide-eyed histrionics. By a few songs in it's caught on; the large crowd (though not sold out - he room is full but the curtain is across the side stage tonight) is whistling and calling out for requests. To that end the band - particularly a particularly vein-popping Perry - are beaming and overly gracious. 'Radio Kalinagrad' is gorgeously pulverising, 'I'm Confused' passes by in a blaze and 'Thy Will Be Done' amps up the distortion to near white noise point. In between playing the more diffident story teller to Perry's cheerleader, Boeckner regularly pulls the mic from its socket to wring it against his fretboard while Perry flaps around with but one finger on her keyboard, as if to let go would send her flying through the roof.
It's a sweetly exhaustive processs and there's no lull to be seen. By the time Handsome Furs are done, both band and crowd are cooked. Overcome with emotion, Perry clasps her hands over her eyes and keeps them there. Boeckner hugs her, says thanks and drags her off stage, waving.
Wonderful.
(Pics: Tim O'Connor)