The Faint, Nightstick @ TheZoo, 09/01/05

Tue 11th Jan, 2005 in Gig Reviews

These are indeed interesting times for The Faint. They are up there with the leaders of the new wave of synth-punk music that is taking the underground by storm, earning them a bevy of new fans. However Wet From Birth, their latest record and reason behind the tour, has generally not been accepted as kindly by their older fans as the band may have perhaps hoped. Will this tour keep the fans on board and silence their new critics?

Murmurs around the venue seemed to suggest that Nightstick weren’t the most popular choice for tonight’s support, with their urgent, straight-ahead brand of rock and roll. This meant that the crowd of fashionable, electro-punk loving kids didn’t give them the response they so often thrive on. The electricity often found at Nightstick shows was certainly lacking tonight as the band ploughed through a solid set which included, Invisible Man, Holiday and closer Model Proletarian. While the crowd seemed to warm to the band towards the end of the set, it just didn’t seem to be the right kind of scene for Nightstick tonight.

The prohibitive cost of tonight’s show as well as the Sunday night billing were probably the main reasons The Zoo was barely half-full for tonight’s show. But it was obvious that everyone present wanted to party and they wanted the band to deliver. In short, they did. I was very unsure as to whether they could replicate their recorded sound on the live stage as well as retain the energy to keep the crowd interested and involved in the show, but I was very quickly proved wrong to doubt.

As soon as the band walked on stage, there was a vibe in the air that didn’t go away all night. The rather cumbersome synth/guitar hybrid sound fuelled the band as drummer Clark Baechle backed up the magnificent cacophony, not missing a damn beat all night. Starting with a number of fan favourites such as Your Retro Career Melted, Erection, Desperate Guys and Worked Up So Sexual, the band bothered not with useless rants between songs, preferring to keep the music pumping and the punters dancing. The band did not stop dancing for the whole show, particularly impressive was guitarist Dapose’s dynamism, even when not having any musical part to play. But nothing could quite compare to the eye-candy of the stunning visuals. Everything from binary code to monster trucks filled the screen behind the band, in perfect sync with the music. This performance was as slick as any other you are likely to see.

Midway through the set, the all too familiar thumping bassline on Talking Heads’ Psycho Killer began and I was worried about what was to be made of the song. This Remain In Light nut was pleasantly surprised with the treatment the band gave the song, staying true enough to the original to keep me happy, proving the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” theory in my eyes.

The band was barely off-stage for a minute before coming back on for an encore to a rousing reception. As they finished with the ever so popular Agenda Suicide, the thought was affirmed in my eyes that The Faint aren’t some gimmicky band briefly enjoying the spotlight – they’re truly really good.

Tonight we saw a band that was tight, energised and professional without losing a sense of fun. I think The Faint really enjoy playing music, and to be totally honest – I really enjoyed watching them do so.