REVIEW: Silverchair
- Posted on September 6, 2007 1:14 AM
- 0 comments
Silverchair
Brixton Academy
July 2007
I went in expecting to be blown away... to have the type of 'Silverchair at the Brixton Academy' experience that dreams are made of.
I didn't quite get the grenade under the buttocks that I expected. Sure, the earth moved slightly but it sure wasn't a 'factor five'. seeing a band you worshipped as a youngster is always a risky business. I worshipped the Newcastle ground they walked on from afar when they kicked off their musical careers at the tender age of fourteen.
The police were out in force as I exited Brixton tube station. I hope they caught their fill of drug dealers because the peaceful Silverchair fans sure didn't merit a frisking. The vibe was a happy one... completely free of agro. There's a lot to be said for the Aussie temperament.
As we dodged the exiled smokers and flyer distributors excitement mounted. The venue is a South London corker... and for vantage point's sake we opted for the seated section. I've had a view from the mosh pit at several South Australian venues and music festivals and came out pulverised every time. At the ripe old age of quarter of a century I figure it's time to sit, drink and enjoy. Plus, I'm the Shetland pony of the human species.
From the moment the lads hit the stage it's obvious that this is a band that has matured - in every sense possible. Gone is the op-shop inspired grunge of youth, the fragile frame of Johns and the . but it's not all about appearance, the sound is naturally of central importance and they've hit the musical nail on the head.
It's been a long time between live sets for Londoners; The cheers are rapturous, the band is animated and the fans are gagging for a long overdue fix. John's reveals more than gut wrenching vocals... there's a finely tuned six pack under the surface too. Young hearts melt and old ones break. Meticulously trimmed moustaches are out in force - it's like porn star central (without the flares).
The repertoire is heavily laced with new stuff. ‘Young Modern Station’ hits our ears first - a sign that their latest album ‘Young Modern’ is going to take preference. This is after all, an international tour.
The two keyboardists packed the punch of a double whammy as Paul Mac (John’s bandmate in The Dissociatives) joins the ranks. Daniel prowls the stage like a panther and wields his guitar like a well-packed oozy. His hidden weapon of choice is THAT voice. If it improves any further they'll have to bottle and sell it as 2007's finest blend.
‘Emotion Sickness’ stirs up the crowd with some Neon Ballroom magic and the waves of sound crash over us with enough force to wet the ears of us balcony dwellers. 'Straight Lines' is well known enough by the expats to provoke a sing-along but 'Freak' gets the biggest reception. ‘Frogstomp’ tunes from days of old are largely left in the amphibious pond of old. It's a pity... Aussies far from home need all the memories we can get.
We leave satisfied but there's still a gap to fill. We've had the dessert, the mains and the garnishes... the chef just forgot to serve up the starters. I'll be there next time though... this is Silverchair after all. Sometimes you just can't mess with excellence - menu malfunctions or not.
- Katie Spain
Tags
brixton academy, review, silverchair
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