Lightspeed Champion @ OxfordArt Factory, Sydney (31/07/08)

Fri 1st Aug, 2008 in Gig Reviews

Dev Hynes is officially the happiest depressive I’ve ever seen. Shambling on stage in his trademark Buddy Holly glasses, Russian fur hat and moth-eaten blue cardigan, Lightspeed Champion looks every bit the – œI-used-to-front-a-noise-punk-outfit-but-now-I’ve-gone-solo’ star that indie fans worldwide have come to embrace. “Considering that this is the second show we’ve played in Australia, ever,” he concedes, “I’m pretty excited that there’s more than two of you!”

What I love about Dev’s new project (as do the 200 or so others in the room) is that he manages to combine absolutely gorgeous melodies with some of the sickest, most downright twisted lyrical imagery known to man. Throughout his set he croons about hanging himself, being engulfed by a tidal wave, stapling down his eyes, drinking poison and a variety of other guaranteed party-starters. It gets to the point where I’m a bit worried that Dev might actually up it and strangle himself with his guitar lead as a final kiss-off to all those who have wronged him.

But no. Dev is a cheery cynic. He smiles politely at applause, asks audience members to take him out after the gig and genuinely endears himself to pretty much everybody. It doesn’t hurt that he’s assembled the kind of band you’d expect mega-professionals to have: a singing female drummer, groove-tight bassist and a guitarist who moonlights as the craziest motherfucker with a violin on the planet. This multi-talented instrumentalist (he also plays keys) drags more emotion and raw energy out of the violin than I’ve seen in any Sydney Symphony performance. It actually makes you shiver, as he extracts wails and whimpers from the thing as a perfect counterpart to Hynes’ lyrics.

As it turns out, Dev’s former band, the unfortunately named Test Icicles, have had a lasting effect on him, as he proceeds to amp up and shred the living daylights out of his guitar at every opportunity. But here’s the rub: he’s actually really good at it. Lightning fast, precise and emotive, Dev’s playing is a wonder in and of itself – especially to the typical Oxford Arts Factory crowd who are used to cheering their lungs out for half-baked bands comprised of snot-nosed school-kids. It’s a fantastic showcase of talent and proof that the UK indie scene is good for something – assuming you get the hell out of it.