The Vasco Era were on fire Saturday night, churning out tunes with their signature ebbs and flows, taking the crowd with them through the single-guitar-and-singer lows and crazy rocking-out highs, including whipping out the steel drums; always a favourite.
The highlight of their set was an amazing Beatles tribute, a wild version of Why Don’t We do it in the Road, dedicated to Damian Crosbie of The Panda Band, who is apparently a mad Beatles fan. They followed this up with another tribute that was sure to be a crowd-pleaser, considering who the people had come to see, they launched into one of The Grates’ first hits, Sukkafish, with their own spin on it of course. They had some help however, with The John Steele Singers and The Grates joining them on stage; complete with trumpet, trombone, several drummers, tambourines, extra cymbals being carried around and anything within arm’s reach smacked with a drumstick or three. You would think that such a mélange of bands and instruments, teamed up with not a little bit of alcohol, would sound a whole lot like a primary school orchestra, but somehow, they managed to make amazing music. It just shows what can happen when bands get to spend some quality time together on tour.
With such a good support act, (and we’re told The John Steele Singers were pretty damn good too,) there was some concern: would The Grates measure up? Would they be outshined by their special guests? It was with baited breath that fans waited to see. Luckily, the wait was not too long; the quartet (yes; quartet), made an entrance, complete with Laverne and Shirley theme music and cheesy grins all-round. All fears were abated, as they struck up the first note of the first song and took us on an incredible, energy-filled trip through the weird and wonderful Grates catalogue. If anyone was questioning whether new album, Teeth Won Hearts Lost, could measure up to the spectacular Gravity Won’t Get you High, they had their answer; it certainly does.
What makes a gig more than just a show is the audience interaction; the acknowledgment that not only are they giving us something, but that we’re giving something back. Lead vocalist, Patience Hodgson does not disappoint in this regard. From exclamations about just how much more sushi there is in Perth than at home in Queensland, to singing Trampoline whilst sitting on someone’s shoulders and suggesting she had never had her crotch that close to his head before… his head anyway, she kept us enthralled and amused for the entirety.
It must be said however, that Patience hasn’t taken any lessons in ribbon twirling since they last graced the western shores, but no one cares, you take one look at the band on stage and you just know they’re having the time of their lives, especially if you peer past Patience’s bright pink outfit and twirling ribbons and notice Alana Skyring; the most enthusiastic, happy drummer ever seen.
With this much energy on stage, the crowd just couldn’t help themselves from using the dance floor like a trampoline. Condolences to the gals who decided on heels for the evening… it just isn’t a Grates show if you can’t jump around manically like a kiddie watching the wiggles. It’s not only knees and ankles that took a pounding; it’s a sure thing that there was many a bruised hand on Sunday as well, because all the evening’s bands seemed to have the kind of music you just can’t help but clap along to, completely unprompted. The music was so good that you just had to be involved… screaming “I’m gonna go like this to you… na na na na na!” at the top of your lungs and jumping around Patience-style was the only possible way to show appreciation.
As the show bounded towards its finale, the shouts for an encore were genuine, not the half-hearted clapping and pre-ordained expectation that we have come to expect (and be a little embarrassed by). Even if it was a planned encore, the crowd went crazy for it… they demanded it, and if they weren’t going to give us one, it’s a very real possibility that the fans may have stormed the stage.
So back on-stage they came, joined shortly after by The Vasco Era and The John Steele Singers, by now especially well-lubricated as the after party had evidently begun back-stage. They crashed back onto stage, cavorting, leaping and rolling around on the floor, at which point, some die-hard fans actually did get up and dance with them, causing much confusion for security guards, who couldn’t work out who was meant to be there and who wasn’t. The fans were harmless though, having a bit of a dance jumping back into the crowd without any fuss.
Perth is so blessed that we so often get the last gig of tours – bands always get so excited closing night and the chaotic stage-antics that ensue are well worth having to wait to be the last ones to see our favourite bands.
