Devastations, St Helens @ EBC,Melbourne (05/02/09)

Mon 9th Feb, 2009 in Gig Reviews

St Helens appear on stage and are all business tonight. Channeling the free spirits of Jonathan Richman and Frank Black, their sound is retro, but fresh and cut through like the existential choppy pop rock of a Yo La Tengo or Blonde Redhead. There’s a lot to admire about St Helens tonight, a testament to the undivided attention a large portion of the crowd give the support act.

The bands leader, Jarrod Quarrell demands attention whilst vocal cohort Hannah Brooks appears tense this evening. Lewis Boyes delivers some quite zen guitar breaks, Joey Santiago-esque on Don’t Laugh, whilst Pharaohs Tomb and Wisdom Baby are highlights from the forthcoming debut that should be worth a listen if this set is anything to go by.

Devastations appear from the darkness with a distorted, schizophrenic guitar effects inspired wall of sound to introduce the lads first live show in eight months. The grating, almost unbearably horrific, albeit wonderfully executed white noise that frames the beginnings of Oh Me, Oh My from Yes, U, showcases Standish howling like a mad man at the moon, immediately capturing the attention of all those present.

Black Ice hits hard with its brooding discotheque feel with Tom Carlyon’s effects board again receiving a hammering whilst the Henry Mancini/Peter Gunn-esque theme Mistakes plays out in a serviceable manner. Nothing to dynamic about the tune considering how much character it has on record, but in terms of a trifecta of tunes to open a set it’s damn dynamic from the much loved Melburnians/Berlin/Londoners.

Standish introduces the first song that Devastations ever wrote, being Previous Crimes from the bands 2003 self titled debut. It is offered as a sombre, reflective piece that calms the East Brunswick Club room and allows for some respite from the raucous start. Then we’re back to business as Carlyon attacks the guitars and sets about switching the set into overdrive with his mind messing distortion on What’s A Place Like That Doing In A Girl Like You?.

Rosa (take 1) is dedicated to Roland Howard and just as the tune reaches its explosive early wig out chorus break, music media veteran, the crazed Mikey – œHawka’ Cahill jumps the stage to have a little jig, disrupting the flow of the song as Carlyon moves into full epic swing with the Hugo Cran’s drums crashing in. It’s great to watch the theatre and mayhem unfold before the intruder is chased from stage and back into the pit. Devastations call a halt to the tune with Standish proclaiming – ‘What is this the MCG? Do I look like Warnie?’

Rosa (take 2) finds the song restarting. It’s haunting, swirling sound consumes the East band room playing out like a pagan ritual as Standish stands and delivers a series of falsetto barks to complement the bands attempt to again smash the sound barrier, before the trio exit the stage. Quickly reappearing for the first encore, We Will Never Drink Again sucks us in with its slow burn remorseful appeal before The Night I Couldn’t Stop Crying and the rollicking, frenetic electric buzz of Take You Home completes the picture tonight. The band finishing as they started, leaving us drowning in a frenzy of feedback.

CHECK OUT PIX FROM THE SHOW HERE