Dappled Cities
The Corner, Melbourne
Saturday 14th August 2009
If Dappled Cities haven't yet "arrived" then they're surely on the cusp of...something. Traditionally the band have played in Melbourne to relatively small, if religiously eager audiences throughout their nearly decade long career, and so earning themselves a dedicated fanbase. (Including a Melbourne-only gaggle of girls who press up the front to throw confetti at every show). So it's with some surprise to see them play tonight to a sold out Corner crowd. Surprising and a vindication of sorts. Because the band have stayed completely true to their art, it's just taken this long for people notice.
Or should I say, for people to hear. First single 'The Price' from the bands new record Zounds (that we're here launching tonight), is a sweeping, made for radio track that loses none of the quirks and pulses that mark much of Dappled's other work. The song is all over the airwaves. But it comes in the middle of an upward arc for the band, not as its inception. Since signing to Dangerbird records in the US for their second record Granddance, Dappled have criss-crossed the US, classically stoking a renewed interest about the band in their homeland. During the recording of Zounds the band recorded an alphabet learning series for the Disney Channel, one that sees them goofing through a song for each letter. Where most image-sensitve bands would either baulk at the idea of undermining their "artistic integrity" or just plain look stupid, Dappled pull it off easily. Because at their heart - at least so it seems - they're still having a ball.
Such enthusiasm points the way forward to Dappled getting, like "big", and stuff. Their main hurdle is, as with much inward looking indie-rock, finding a way to reach the back of the room. Playing to a packed in 850 people on a Saturday night, the band did their best to wrest all eyes forward. They took to a stage adorned with spinning electric LED letters that spelled out Z-O-U-N-D-S; there were video screens draped either side of the stage (when they weaved a few moments from the Disney show into proceedings while they were offstage the effect was perfectly psychedelic); for the encore they returned to the scene in darkness wearing full body fairy-light costumes from 'The Price' video. And when they weren't using props, the infectious enthusiasm of frontmen Tim Derricourt and Dave Rennick was enough to stay engaged in the throng.
So if I'm making it sound like the songs themselves didn't hit home, it's not entirely the case. 'The Price' was huge, hands waving in the air etc as expected. The darkly winding 'Wooden Ships' and the effortless groove of 'Miniature Alas' were sweeping highlights, as were 'Granddance' and 'Vision Bell' from Granddance. It's just that Dappled's is not a punishing sound, it doesn't force itself upon you. It takes an alertness and will on the audiences part to stay connected. Looking around a the new, head-nodding swell of fans in this hot flush of launch excitement, one couldn't help but wonder if such nuances would provide the kind of bait needed to reel them in for the long haul. As Derrircourt claimed towards the end "Thanks for making this our first sold out Corner". The band expect and deserve to quantify that statement with a repeat performance. Hopefully the fairy-lights, road legs and fun times did their magic.
(Pics: Tim O'Connor)