Dappled Cities andPhiladelphia Grand Jury @ ANUBar, Canberra, (21/08/09)

Sat 22nd Aug, 2009 in Gig Reviews

Canberra is a better city than Newcastle.

Despite not being recognised with it’s own Wikipedia page, this is actually a fact. Where Canberra has roundabouts, Newcastle has straight and boring roads. Canberra is a seat of power, whereas Newcastle just exports the raw ingredients for it. The last noteworthy wash up in Canberra ended up being PM for 12 years, but Newcastle can only muster up the Pasha Bulker, and let’s not get started about the John’s brothers.

But the most important reason why Canberra is better than Newcastle? Because Dappled Cities said so. Oh, I bet they say that to all the guys…

Beginning the nights proceedings were the Yacht Club DJ’s. The hipster trendoid twosome were taking cues from Girl Talk and dropping recent hip hop in with old classics you think you might know, but kind of don’t until the chorus hits. Definitely a decent act to keep the dancing crowd warmed up, with one of the guys even jumping behind the drum kit during their set between the bands.

Prior to that, however, was Philadelphia Grand Jury, and what an unlucky night for them. The band of the Almighty Beards was already down a drummer for the evening, having had a minor plane malfunction in Sydney, and then one chorus into their opener, two guitar strings were already broken. Rather than letting it get them down, the remaining lads not only put on a stellar show, but showed just how talented they are, with guitar, piano, bass, and drums all getting a workout during the set.

The catch with being a member down is that not all the songs were performable so the set was a little short, but oh so sweet, and certainly left the somewhat sizeable crowd (give yourself a round of applause Canberra) with a grand impression. Pun intended.

The grounded Dappled Cities came on a good hour or so after Philly Beards, but by that time the ANU Bar was shaking and grooving like your Grandfather at Christmas after four or five sherry’s, and if someone had put on Bing Crosby’s Greatest Hits. It didn’t take long for the more subtle and less punchy (compared to PGJ) Dappled Cities to work their magic either, and their lengthy indie tunes were rapturously received.

Showcasing their new album Zounds, as well as old hits that sent the crowd into a tizzy, Dappled Cities were flawless in maintaining the bond between act and crowd. In fact, they’d left such an impression they even came out for a real encore. No, really, an actual unplanned, “turn off the house music – what the hell will we play?” encore. They made sure to mention that they hadn’t planned on it, and that they were genuinely humbled by the reception.

So, just before midnight, the now sweaty masses were turfed out into the Canberra cold and rain, and the general consensus was that a fun night was had by all. Aw.

Also, Newcastle: The ball is in your court. You just got served, bitch.