Moh Van Wah, Using ThreeWords, The Chuffs @ Greenroom,(18/07/08)

Mon 21st Jul, 2008 in Gig Reviews

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It was fitting that on the week that the Government released a green paper to make the globe green I get given The Chuffs, Using Three Words and Moh Van Wah gig at the Greenroom. Keying in the GPS coordinates and heading over the bridge into the nether world whilst en route being overtaken by people in cars with big exhausts and indulging in an ice-cream product bearing nothing remotely dairy.

The first act up were The Chuffs, local punters who seem to have been around a while. They have an uncomplicated modus operandi reminiscent of yesteryear when guitar solos and distortion ruled. Bass player Pat O’Connor plays his instrument with a reverence and delicacy usually reserved for bathing new-borns but the band’s sound was all rock. Loud and proud The Chuffs channelled equal parts ACDC and Shihad in a longish set playing songs from their recent album Flambé.

Next up were Using Three Words who are described as having a unique and easily recognisable sound. So do Placebo – think Without You I’m Nothing.
For a moment I thought Brian Molko had entered the room but no, it was the self-assured and better fed aural doppelganger Dan O’Day. O’Day is very comfortable on stage. Nothing like a belch, a quick get-up fix-up and having your ass hanging out of your jeans to tell the crowd you were meant to be a lead singer. But even if your booty could crack macadamias, y-fronts belong out-of-sight.

There were some initial issues with balance and the guitars were directed to turn down their amps by 50 per cent. Heresy I hear you say, but O’Day’s voice in the second track did benefit. There was a great energy to the set and some nice effects on O’Day’s voice in Elephant. Close to Fire cut a bit close to the bone (references to fire on the southside) but is a good track and the crowd enjoyed the Bloody Sunday-esque Rooftop. Sadly O’Day got unstuck when singing happy birthday to drummer Riccardo Natoli but that’s a minor gripe. Using Three Words are all accomplished musicians and appear to be on the edge of cracking the big time.

Last up were the headliners Moh Van Wah. Self described as a – œpostembryonic combo from the fermenting Canberra scene’, I would say combine some off the charts bass trickery, searing guitars and rich soaring vocals with more than a generous splash of Chris Cornell and Moh Van Wah are your mother’s brother. The stars of the show are undoubtedly the brothers Dean, Marcus on guitar and Ryan on bass. Ryan had the crowd in raptures with his digital dexterity and Marcus crafted a dark and melodic sound and created some interesting harmonies exemplified by Rock’n’Roll Suicide Stoner. As a closing observation, in theme Marcus’ drums were a beautiful emerald hue.

Moh Van Wah are a tight unit but similarly to Using Three Words perhaps they sound a little too much like their obvious influences: in this case Soundgarden and Audioslave. It’s fair to say though that Canberra’s live rock scene is flourishing.