The Gutter Twins @ AthenaeumTheatre, Melbourne (24/07/09)

Mon 27th Jul, 2009 in Gig Reviews

Mark Lanegan scares the shit out of me. As does Greg Dulli. Guitarist/backing vocalist Dave Rosser not so much but together all three are a menacing force even if these certified rock pigs are in acoustic mode for their – œEvening With Greg Dulli and Mark Lanegan’ performance tonight.

All three men take a seat with Dulli taking care of an acoustic guitar, harmonica and later wandering over to the piano for a pounding version of José González’ Down The Line. Lanegan is seated in the middle. No guitar. Hands on knees. Head down with his trademark guttural vocal sending shivers up the spine of many in attendance and there was a few. Whilst Rosser takes the other wing supporting the lads on his acoustic.

Performing songs from their 2008 record Saturnalia, and follow up EP Adorata, there are also tunes from both of the alpha males punishing back catalogue of monster rock. Lanegan and Dulli having drawn fans from everywhere via their plethora of musical guises. Lanegan courtesy of Screaming Trees and Dulli with his Afghan Whigs and current Twilight Singers. Lanegan’s most recent collaborations having been with Belle & Sebastian sweetheart Isobel Campbell and contributions to Queens of the Stone Age records.

Tonight Lanegan is in rare form. His singing voice is deep and dark as ever as he occasionally sips from a bottle of water. The man a picture of concentration, so dedicated to delivering the most effective vocal every time he performs… the consummate professional.

Dulli on the other hand is the joker in the pack. His work on the piano a real highlight this evening. Doing all the talking on stage you’d think the others had been gagged by the former Whigman prior to the show such was his domineering qualities. I can’t stop looking into Lanegan’s eyes. And, it keeps scaring me, but I can’t stop. He is such a hypnotic rock figure. His eyes barely there, almost like two piss holes in the snow but the ladies in the room still love him to death.

Surprising the audience with a cover of Nick Drake’s Three Hours and the – œmade famous by’ The Everly Brothers All I Have To Do Is Dream (funny stuff considering the two men are the total antithesis of the square pop pair, and for the fact that Dulli himself describes The Gutter Twins as – œThe Satanic Everly Brothers’). The highlight of the evening? For mine it has to be Creeping Coastline Of Lights. Lanegan confessing to ‘Leaving Hollywood/Sunset to the sea/Where the waves/Ride in on horses/I’m looking for her light/Creeping coastline of lights…’ whilst Dulli and Rosser provide the gentlest, almost Appalachian score to the heart-rending words.

CHECK OUT THE PHOTOS FROM THE SHOW HERE