My Top 10 Gigs of 2005: #4
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
#4 - End of Fashion (with Faker), Northcote Social Club, April
Anyone who's visited the Northcote Social Club for a gig will have an opinion on the set up of the place. Brodie hates it. Brad probably does too. End of Fashion's lead singer/guitarist Justin Burford summed it up best, describing it as playing in someone's lounge room. After seeing two of the best up-and-coming Aussie bands, I couldn't help enjoying the idea of seeing bands playing in my living room.
The Northcote might be the ugly sister of the Corner Hotel, but it still has some of its sister's good traits. Easy to get to and park and an up close, intimate viewing area. I love the discussion and banter between the band and the crowd. This time Justin successfully negotiated with the crowd to buy the bass player a birthday beer.
This was the first time I'd seen Faker, having never even heard of them at the time, but all through the set I kept recognising tunes played on Triple J...and I liked what I heard. It turns out they'd been around since 2001 but were finishing off their debut album after a string of line-up changes. Anyway, I was mighty impressed and the rest, they say, was history.
I finally got to see End of Fashion headline, after they pulled out of Gomez support and moved or cancelled a few other shows too. It was worth the delay as they totally rocked the place out. The straight bourbon swilling Justin belted his lungs out (à la one Dave Grohl) to their two EPs and a selection of songs from their forthcoming debut album.
Their more recognisable tracks Anything Goes, Rough Diamonds and Too Careful were all frantically and brilliantly delivered, but the screamed ramblings and walking bass line of the closing track Counting Your Friends sealed it for me. Unbelievable and warmly appreciated by the crowd to match the cosy living room atmosphere.
3 comments to this post
I've only been to NSC once... and while I could name about a dozen things wrong with the venue, the gig itself was fucking awesome. If the show is good enough, it doesn't matter where it is or how bad the venue/sound is... for example, when I saw A Perfect Circle at Festival Hall. My least favourite venue of all, but it was far and away the most enjoyable gig I've been to.
Whereabouts were you standing? Could you hear all the instruments and vocals properly?
I was slightly to the right of centre and marginally in the front half of the floor, which you may consider a best-case place to listen. I thought the sound was decent.
Yeah, see my main problem was that the sound was horrible (couldn't hear ANY vocals, guitar was way too loud)... but that was only the case because we were right up the front.
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