Mindless Self Indulgence, TheRed Paintings @ Billboard,Melbourne (08/04/09)

Sun 12th Apr, 2009 in Gig Reviews

It was no surprise that Mindless Self Indulgence performing at their first Australian sole-headlining gig would garner a lot of attention. The band has created a cult following, with their fanbase growing rapidly even if their lyrics are too extreme to be found in the media. The following obviously had increased this night compared to their last stint in Australia, with the band selling out Billboard and bringing a crowd that seemed to represent every different genre under the sun.

Whilst the Billboard website stated differently, punters were forced to wait for an hour and a quarter in order to see opening act, The Red Paintings. Whilst the absence of a local act seemed to anger the crowd, from the moment The Paintings took to the stage, all were engrossed by not only a musical set, but also, putting it simply, a performance. Joining the already large band (drums, guitar, bass, and strings) were two masked individuals. One, a tribal dancer who stood to the side of stage, and an artist who spent the entire 30 minutes painting. It was quite amazing to watch this piece of art unfold as a band was putting on a show around it.

The band continued to deliver for their short set of only 30 minutes, displaying a different style of music whilst still showing truly strange antics (front man Trash McSweeney holding a toy gun to his head whilst singing Rain is only proof of this).

It was a pleasant change to be introduced to a band like The Red Paintings. The music industry these days is encapsulated with identical bands creating the same music in order to generate a hit. To hear something relatively new, performed in a relatively different way is refreshing.

Unfortunately the reception from the crowd at Billboards was not stellar, with many still remaining at the bar and talking throughout songs and breaks. This changed however as the lights dimmed and Mindless Self Indulgence took to the stage. Opener Shut Me Up created one of the most intense mosh-pits ever seen at Billboard, with every single punter appearing to give every ounce of energy. Upon finishing, frontman Jimmy Urine informed the crowd that ‘you all only have one hour to live…we will try to make your last hour of life incredible’. The funny thing about this is the fact that many fans from the night would have been happy calling this gig their final hour.

Next on the list were recent hits from their latest album, If, Mastermind and Lights Out. Complete with the stage antics that MSI are famous for, the foursome held back in no way, dancing along, abusing the crowd, and in guitarist Steve Righ?’s case, playing his guitar in the crowd itself.

It seems that if you are not a fan of the music that MSI provide, you would still find a live show of theirs entertaining. Urine appropriately ensured this, firstly stealing a crowd surfers shoe and throwing it backstage.

Stupid Motherfucker was one of the biggest songs of the night, with Jimmy capitalising on that and milking it for all it was worth – having members of the crowd drum on his penis. It was quite hard to hear Urine over the laughter from the crowd, however there was no mistaking the number of Australian references that the frontman used during the night. References to Russell Crowe and phone throwing and calling a (very) tall punter towards the back of the room a Bunyip were highlights. Just to make it better, Jimmy proceded to sing a song for this young man. ‘Bunyip, Bunyip, yiip yiip yiip…’. For future reference, it is not wise to attend a Mindless Self Indulgence gig if you take things to heart.

Inviting two young boys on stage, ‘one of you can be my horsey. One of you Steve’s seat’, for Prescription revealed the most incredible sight. Putting it simply, imagine a fully grown man sitting on a teenagers shoulders, riding him like a horse whilst singing a song and patting his face. Urine did not tire of this, either, remaining sitting on the boys back for the entire song.

Tornado received a huge reaction from the crowd, as this seemed to be the one song that was not played at the Soundwave 2008 tour that was expected to be played. Jimmy continued the Australian references at the end of this song, asking us to ‘take care of me. When I’m old. And I only have one spike…Feed me kangaroo meat!’.

The band continued to shock and please at the same time, with Urine stripping during On It, giving the finger to the crowd, and later telling four girls who were invited on stage that ‘if this was America’s next top model…you all lost!’.

Bomb This Track and Bitches received full crowd participation, with all knowing that the show would soon be finished. Finally, half naked (and now for some reason covered in black paint), holding a water bottle filled with Whisky and holding his body in an army style pose, Jimmy finished the night with closer, Straight to Video. A spectacular finish to a spectacular concert.

Whilst many fans complain of bands who take too long with banter and conversing with the crowd, this is definitely not the case with Mindless Self Indulgence. Their quirky sense of humour, rude lyrics and ability to make a quick buck (Urine managed to invite a kid on stage for 15 seconds for $20. As he put it – œNot the quickest $20 that I’ve made…but the again, I didn’t have to suck anything’), creates a show that is loved by all, and slowly becoming more and more popular each time they return to a country. It was just over a year between visits to Australia from the band. Lets hope that the next visit is no further away than that.

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