Live Review - The Basics, Annandale Hotel, Sydney
Posted in Music by domalessio on Dec 01, 01:00PM
The Basics
The Bawdies
The Annandale Hotel, Sydney
Thursday November 27
Rarely does a band polarise music lovers like Melbourne trio The Basics. They’ve become the poster children for a generation of bands shunted by Triple J: to some they are an inconceivable omission from the Js playlist, while others view their music as nothing but a pastiche of The Beatles and 1960s pop. But the thing with the Basics is, regardless of when and where you see them you’re pretty much guaranteed to have fun. And that’s a recommendation not many Australian bands can uphold.
The noticeable difference with The Basics at tonight’s Annandale Hotel show was the distinct lack of their trademark single-breasted grey suits. Apparently, that uniform had been nicked by their touring partners, Japan’s The Bawdies. If you were to imagine a Japanese version of The Basics (but with an added guitarist), you’d get the Bawdies. However, I’m pretty sure their record collection solely consists of pre-Revolver Beatles records and a bunch of Little Richard albums. Their joie de vivre is intractable, their smiles unfaltering, but they’re a one-trick pony. Bob Segar would love these guys.
So the less-than-dapper Basics sauntered onto the stage under swathes of blue light – with ghost member and keyboardist Dave Brambles missing in action – looking a little more tired than usual having just come off the back of a regional and high school tour. See, live is where The Basics are in their element, and six years of constant touring has allowed them to hone their sweet three-part harmonies, perfect some witty, off-the-cuff banter and tighten their chops considerably. A few notes are missed, but the mistakes are inconsequential. Drummer Wally de Backer is Australia’s answer to Phil Collins, sans sappy ballads and 1980s glint. His voice is agile and versatile, and on the drum riser he’s the unavoidable focal point of The Basics. On more upbeat tunes like ‘Money (Gimme, Gimme)’ and ‘Rattle My Chain’, de Backer was in fine form.
That’s not to discredit the input of the other two Basics. Kris Schroeder on the bass might be the weaker of the two main singers, but in ‘Hey There!’, a song that combines a 1960s harmony-rich chorus with a Mariachi verse, his voice was gritty but strong. Guitarist Tim Heath, who looks like Incubus’ Mike Einziger but sounds like Ian Healy, is the melodic glue that holds the rhythm section of Schroeder and de Backer together. When it all gelled for the final song of the night, an amazing cover of The Police’s ‘Roxanne’, you couldn’t help but walk away happy, even if it wasn’t the strongest Basics show.
Dom Alessio
- Currently 0/5 Stars.
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